Florida Food Bank Needs 800 Volunteers This Summer

When school lets out for summer, thousands of children lose access to the free meals that keep them fed during the year, and one Florida food bank is mobilizing an army of volunteers to help.

All Faiths Food Bank in Sarasota needs 800 volunteers between now and September to provide 12,000 hours of support at 60 outdoor mobile food pantries. The summer months bring special challenges for families already stretched thin by rising costs for groceries, fuel, insurance, and childcare.

The mobile pantries serve children who no longer have school meals, seniors on fixed incomes, veterans, and working families trying to make ends meet. Volunteers sort and pack food, staff distribution sites, support nutrition education classes, and help at community events.

Kelly and Rick Hornback know the impact firsthand. The couple has volunteered with All Faiths since 2022, helping run the pantry at Gocio Elementary School in Sarasota. They've found deep fulfillment in the work, even when it means spending hours in Florida's sweltering summer heat.

The Ripple Effect

Last year's volunteer corps of 3,200 people contributed more than 59,000 hours to the fight against hunger in their community. Those hours translated into meals for families facing one of the toughest times of year, when budgets are strained and need is highest.

The food bank's work becomes especially urgent during summer, when living costs spike and school support systems disappear. Each volunteer shift helps ensure more neighbors can access nutritious food during these challenging months.

All Faiths acknowledges that working outdoor food distributions in the Florida heat isn't easy. But every person who shows up helps a family get through a difficult season with dignity and enough to eat.

People interested in becoming a "Hunger Hero" this summer can find volunteer opportunities at allfaithsfoodbank.org/volunteer.