Contact: Johanna Elsemore at jelsemore@strength.org
Tallahassee, Florida – As 2020 draws to a close, No Kid Hungry announced a total of $3.4 million in grants this year to 60 schools and community organizations across the state that are providing free meals for kids during the ongoing pandemic. The investment comes as part of No Kid Hungry’s continuing effort to ensure all children in Florida remain nourished and healthy.
Across America, families are facing unprecedented levels of food insecurity as the coronavirus has led to lost jobs and wages. Right here in Florida, more than 1.1 million kids could face hunger this year, a drastic uptick as a result of the pandemic.
“The coronavirus has hit our economy hard here in Florida, where so many families rely on the tourism and hospitality industries for their income. With poverty and food insecurity skyrocketing, school meals are a critical source of nutrition and comfort for students,” said No Kid Hungry Florida Director Sky Beard. “ Schools have remained a cornerstone of our communities, with hard-working nutrition staff constantly adapting and innovating to make sure their programs are reaching kids with meals during this crisis. We’re so proud to support them.”
These grants from No Kid Hungry help school districts with the added staffing and equipment costs required to expand and adapt their programs to meet increased need and operate safely under these unprecedented circumstances. Since March, No Kid Hungry has granted to the following schools and nonprofits:
4 Roots
A Kid’s Place of Tampa Bay
Alachua County School District
All Faiths Food Bank
America’s Second Harvest of the Big Bend
Buccan Provisions
Clay County School District
Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida, Inc.
Community Food Pantry
Crohn’s Charity Service Foundation
Cutting Edge Ministries, Inc.
Duval County PUblic Schools
E-Roadmap Corporation
Early Learning Coalition of Palm Beach County
Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties
Escambia County School District
Farm Share, Inc.
Feed the Need of Putnam County
Feeding Florida
Feeding Tampa Bay
Flagler County School District
Florida Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs
Florida Recreation and Park Association
Florida State Alliance of YMCAs Foundation
Fort Pierce Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Hamilton County School District
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Foundation
Kids in Distress, Inc.
Lafayette County Schools
Little Smiles of Florida, Inc.
Madison County School Board
Meals of Hope
Monroe County School District
New Beginnings of Tampa
Okeechobee County School District
One Heart for Women and Children, Inc.
Orange County Public Schools
Pace Center for Girls, Inc.
People Helping People in Hernando County
Polk County Public Schools
Putnam School District
Redlands Christian Migrant Association
Santa Rosa County Schools
School District of Hillsborough County
School District of Manatee County
School District of Palm Beach County
The Salvation Army of Sanford
The Salvation Army of Naples
The School Board of Broward County
The School Board of Miami-Dade County
The School District of Osceola County
The Society of St. Andrew, Inc.
The Thomas Promise Foundation
Treasure Coast Food Bank
United Farmers Alliance
United Food Bank and Services of Plant City
We Care Food Pantry, Inc.