Donations Pouring in for ‘Grand Challenge’ to Meet Food Bank needs

Only one week into September, local businesses and organizations have raised $12,000 and 10,000 pounds of food for the Grand Challenge to restock the Food Bank of Manatee.

Food Bank Director Cindy Sloan said 72 businesses and organizations have requested food bins to collect canned goods and non-perishable items for the cause.

The Challenge is to Manatee schools, business owners, hospitals and faith-based organizations to help the Food Bank by collecting either 1,000 pounds of food or raising $1,000 or a combination of the two during September.

“We’re buying food like crazy and restocking the shelves, but we really need everyone to keep up the effort,” Sloan said.  “Thank you for everything that is happening in our community. I see everyone responding to the call for help and it warms my heart.  To live in a county that cares so much about others less fortunate is terrific.”

The Lakewood Ranch Rotary Club delivered a donation of 2,500 pounds of food to the Food Bank last week. Sloan helped the group select food the Food Bank needs like canned meat and boxed meals.

Manatee County Government raised nearly 1,300 pounds and $150 at a leadership team meeting last week. All of the Food Bank’s collection barrels have been distributed to businesses that request them, but they still have boxes for businesses that want to host a local food drive.

Keeton’s Office Supply has offered to deliver food to the Food Bank on behalf of any business customerswho use their office supply delivery.

Among the businesses and organizations already participating in the Grand Challenge: The cities of Bradenton and Palmetto and the township of Longboat Key, Manatee Schools, Iberia Banks, Mosaic, the Lakewood Ranch and West Bradenton Rotary Clubs, local Kiwanis clubs and Blalock Walters attorneys, Feld Entertainment, Mosaic, Bradenton Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau and Manatee County Administration Building. 

Also Boyd Insurance and Investment Services, Inc., Wagner Real Estate, Gentiva Home Health, Tropicana, United Way, Keller Williams Realty, Hancock Bank, Manatee Convention Center, Mauldin & Jenkins, Manatee Glens, H2U, Safe Children Coalition, Michael Saunders Realty, Ridgewood Meadows, Home Instead Senior Care, Florida Bank, Snackworks Honeycomb and Manatee County Sheriff's Department.

Manatee Tiger Bay Club collected food items and donations for the Grand Challenge at its Sept. 6 meeting.

Feeding Children Everywhere, a Sanford, Florida-based company that ships meals to schools and orphanages around the world, has offered 50,000 rice-and-lentil-based meals per month for the next three months.

In August, Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore and School Board member Julie Aranibar held a press conference to ask the community to respond to a growing shortage at the Food Bank. The Food Bank is down to 15 percent capacity. Each month the Food Bank serves more than 100 local agencies and food pantries which then distribute the food to as many as 60,000 people each month.

Anyone interested can obtain a Food Bank food collection barrel by calling (941) 747-FOOD. Food Drive Kits can also be found at the Food Bank’s website.