Florida Food Bank Needs 800 Summer Volunteers Now

When school lets out and seasonal volunteers head north, hungry families in Florida still need to eat.

All Faiths Food Bank in Sarasota is calling for 800 volunteers to fill 12,000 hours of shifts between May and September. The food bank runs 60 outdoor mobile distributions across Sarasota and DeSoto counties, bringing nutritious meals directly to neighborhoods where families need them most.

Summer creates a perfect storm of challenges for the organization. Seasonal volunteers leave the area just as demand spikes. Kids who relied on free school meals suddenly go without breakfast and lunch five days a week.

That's why All Faiths launched its Campaign Against Summer Hunger. The program partners with local school districts and hundreds of community groups to make sure children don't go hungry during summer break.

Volunteer supervisor Aaron Walters says the work is flexible and meaningful. People can commit to regular shifts or drop in when their schedule allows. Opportunities range from sorting food in air conditioning to helping families at outdoor distributions in the Florida heat.

Even a few hours makes a real difference. Administrative help, nutrition education, cooking classes, special events, and packing food all keep the operation running smoothly.

The Ripple Effect

The volunteer impact speaks for itself. In 2025 alone, more than 3,200 people gave their time to support neighbors facing hunger. Those 59,000 donated hours translated into thousands of meals for children, seniors, and families struggling with rising grocery prices and living costs.

Mobile food pantries bring dignity and nutrition directly to people who might not have transportation to a traditional food bank. Volunteers make those critical touchpoints possible, ensuring no one has to choose between paying rent and feeding their kids.

Anyone interested can sign up at allfaithsfoodbank.org/volunteer to find shifts that work for them.

Summer hunger doesn't take a vacation, but together a community can make sure no child does without.