Local food banks offer matching donations for Giving Tuesday

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Two local food banks are offering matching donations up to $100,000 each for Giving Tuesday, doubling the impact of contributions made through tonight.

All Faith Food Bank in Sarasota and Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee have each secured $100,000 in matching donations as part of ABC7’s annual Giving Tuesday partnership with local food banks.

All Faith Food Bank has seen a 26% increase in visits from last year, representing about 9,300 new households who have never used the food bank before, said Nina Harrelson, the organization’s director of strategic communications.

It’s Giving Tuesday: ABC7 partners with local food banks

“We really are just seeing more and more people who don’t know where to turn to for help,” Harrelson said. “They don’t know how they’re going to put food on the table.”

The organization recently had to turn people away from some food distributions after SNAP benefit cuts, something they had not previously had to do. Lines at food distributions now wrap around the block, with people arriving hours in advance.

“Even during the pandemic, the need is greater right now than during that time,” Harrelson said.

Donations can be made at allfaithfoodbank.org, where all contributions will be matched up to $100,000 through tonight. The organization accepts donations of any amount, including checks as small as $5.

All Faith Food Bank operates through retail partnerships with Publix and Walmart, along with corporate sponsors and community donors who made the matching funds possible.

As of 5:40 p.m. on Tuesday, matching donations have reached $428,878.