All Faiths Food Bank Responds to Hurricane Idalia

September 1, 2023 – Sarasota

As one of the lead agencies in Sarasota and the State of Florida for emergency recovery, All Faiths Food Bank stood ready to respond to Hurricane Idalia. In advance of landfall, the team at All Faiths loaded numerous trucks with MREs (meals, ready-to-eat) and pallets of water to deliver throughout the community.

Early in the morning, in advance of the initial storm impacts to our area, the trucks were on the road delivering product to storm shelters throughout Sarasota County. The trucks delivered 8,064 lbs. of MREs and 26,880 lbs. of bottled water to 14 Sarasota County schools that were serving as shelters, supporting efforts to keep residents safe and comfortable during their time away from home.

The list of shelters to which supplies were delivered included: Atwater Elementary, Booker High, Brookside Middle, Fruitville Elementary, Gulf Gate Elementary, Heron Creek Middle, North Port High, Phillippi Shores Elementary, Riverview High, Southside Elementary, Taylor Ranch Elementary, Woodland Middle, Lamarque Elementary and Tatum Ridge Elementary.

Additionally, two members of the All Faiths team – Ryan Beaman, senior director of operations, and Ronnie Coats, FDC manager – responded to a request for assistance from Second Harvest of the Big Bend, Tallahassee’s food bank, and traveled to that location the day after Hurricane Idalia made landfall to help with the emergency response efforts in north Florida.

“As part of Feeding America and the Feeding Florida network, we are committed to helping our sister food banks and the communities they serve, especially in times of disaster,” said Denise Cotler, chief development officer of All Faiths. “We sent trucks and product to Charlotte County when Hurricane Ian came through last year and are happy to provide requested support in the wake of Hurricane Idalia. We know our sister food banks will be there for us and our communities, should the need arise.”

For more about All Faiths Food Bank, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org.