All Faiths Food Bank is facing a significant volunteer shortage and needs roughly 800 volunteers to cover approximately 12,000 volunteer hours through September for its 60 planned outdoor mobile food distributions.
The need is particularly urgent over the summer as AFFB increases its output through the implementation of its summer feeding program for children who may be experiencing hunger. This effort – funded through the Campaign Against Summer Hunger – provides food for local kids throughout the summer months when they lose access to free and reduced-cost meals at school. For the 13th year, the hunger relief organization is partnering with Sarasota and DeSoto County schools, along with community partners, to provide free, nutritious food to children all summer long.
“Our volunteers are essential in helping us to maximize our reach and impact, ensuring that we can carry out activities at a level that our professional team couldn’t achieve without their support,” said AFFB president and CEO Nelle Miller. “We understand that summer is a time when many people travel, and our usual volunteer base shrinks. But hunger doesn’t take a vacation.”
In 2025, 3,200 “Hunger Heroes” contributed more than 59,000 hours to help the food bank in its mission of ending hunger. Activities that volunteers typically assist with over the course of the year include sorting and packing food, helping to distribute food at mobile pantries, participating in All Faiths’ nutrition education and cooking classes, working in the administrative offices, and lending a hand at events.
“Much of the volunteer work needed over the coming months involves helping at our outdoor mobile food pantries in the sweltering Florida heat. We know it’s not easy work,” Miller said. “But for those who step up, the reward is immeasurable: knowing you helped feed a child, a senior or a struggling family during one of the hardest times of the year.”
For more about All Faiths Food Bank or to learn how you can be a hands-on “Hunger Hero” this summer, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org/volunteer.
Submitted by Sharon Kunkel
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: All Faiths Food Bank needs 800 volunteers this summer
Reporting by Special to the Herald-Tribune, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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By Special to the Herald-Tribune, Sarasota Herald-Tribune | USA TODAY Network
