Hunger in Sarasota and DeSoto
Sadly hunger hurts our most vulnerable: children, seniors and veterans. According to the most recent local ALICE study, in 2021, 45 percent of households in Florida were below the threshold and could not afford basic needs such as housing, childcare, food, health care, and transportation. ALICE refers to the population in our community that are Asset Limited, Income Constrained Employed. The ALICE population represents those among us who are working, but due to childcare costs, transportation challenges, high cost of living and so much more are living paycheck to paycheck.
You can read the full 2021 local ALICE study on financial hardship in Sarasota here and DeSoto here.
38% of households in Sarasota struggle to afford their basic needs
66% of households in DeSoto struggle to afford their basic needs
2022 BY THE NUMBERS
Thank you for helping your neighbors!
Food Distribution
• 20.9 million lbs of food
• 18 million meals
• 5.8 million lbs of produce
• 756 monthly food distributions
• 262,420 household visits to our services
• 61,576 individuals served
• 48,208 volunteer hours
Childhood Hunger
• 295,000 backpacks distributed through 81 schools and child-focused programs to over 11,000 children
• 13 school pantries served almost 7,000 individuals, including children
• 35,222 children reached through summer programs
Benefits Assistance
(Financial impact to the community)
• VITA refund – $300,103
• SNAP meals – 606,998
• SNAP economic impact – $3.1 million
Hunger & Health
• 22,663 food insecurity screenings
• 43% of neighbors contacted were successfully referred to services
Rural Hunger
• 13,014 household visits
• 7,196 individuals served