Sarasota Libraries Providing Food For Children

SARASOTA, FL – Thanks to a successful fundraising campaign, children in Sarasota County can take home healthy food this summer when they visit select local libraries and other community organizations.

The All Faiths Food Bank successfully raised $1.2 million through its 2016 Campaign Against Summer Hunger, which ran from April 1 to May 15. The proceeds are enough to fund the Summer Food Program, a project that aims to feed 30,000 children all summer long. The food bank is working with more than 180 agencies and programs in the community to achieve its goal.

“It’s the goal of All Faiths Food Bank to ensure that every child knows that there is food for them all summer long,” said Erica Enmeier, the food bank’s Summer Food Program coordinator.

The Summer Food Program officially kicks off Tuesday, June 7 at 1:30 p.m. at North Sarasota Public Library. At the event, children will be collecting bags of child-friendly food and new books that are appropriate to their reading level.

As part of the program, eight Sarasota County libraries will have bags of child-friendly food available to those who may want or need them. Three libraries will offer prepared lunches for children 18 and younger, provided by the Sarasota County School District Food and Nutrition Services.

Beside the libraries, other locations that will have food this summer include Sarasota County Schools, Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs and community centers. Schedules and locations can be found at http://www.allfaithsfoodbank.org/foodmap and paper schedules will be available at dozens of locations within the Sarasota community.

For more information, visit http://allfaithsfoodbank.org/.

Images courtesy of All Faiths Food Bank

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