Community Food Bank Receives $20,000 Grant from Suncoast Credit Union to Feed Children Affected by Hunger

$20,000 Grant from Suncoast Credit Union

The Community Food Bank (CFB) received a $20,000 grant from Suncoast Credit Union to help the organization feed children throughout Citrus and Hernando counties (ages 0-18) nutritious meals outside of school settings. According to Barbara Sprague, CEO/Executive Director of the CFB, the grant will provide 200,000 kid-friendly, nutritious meals that will be distributed to the CFB’s 60+ partner agencies.

“Each of our agencies is supplied with food relief and resources to connect families and individuals to the help they need to overcome their crisis and become independent again. Children are at the heart of our efforts as they often suffer from the plight of their parents and have no voice in their situation,” explains Sprague. “These young victims are often underweight, obese, score low scholastically, lag in reading scores, and become the next cycle in generational poverty. Our movement works to end hunger, nourish hope, promote awareness, and inspire others to be our partners in the fight against food insecurity.”

While children on reduced and free school meal programs are fed when school is in session, there is a significant gap during the evenings, weekends, holidays, and summer.

“For many children, the only food they have access to is the free meals offered at school,” says Sprague. “We are so grateful for organizations such as Suncoast Credit Union who can step in and help us fill the gap!”

For more information about Suncoast Credit Union, please visit  https://www.suncoastcreditunion.com/.

About Suncoast Credit Union

Suncoast Credit Union is the largest credit union in the state of Florida, the 8th largest in

the United States based on membership, and the 11th largest in the United States based on its $17.1 billion in assets. Chartered in 1934 as Hillsborough County Teachers Credit Union, Suncoast Credit Union currently operates 77 full-service branches and serves more than one million members across Florida. As a community credit union, anyone who lives, works, attends school, or worships in Suncoast Credit Union’s service area is eligible for membership. In 2021, Suncoast Credit Union’s field of membership was expanded to include public K-12 teachers, college educators, and educational support staff from all of Florida’s 67 counties. Suncoast is passionate about community support. Since its founding in 1990, the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation has raised and donated more than $40 million to organizations and initiatives that support the health, education, and emotional well-being of children in the communities that the credit union serves. For more information, visit suncoastcreditunion.com or follow us on social media: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Community Food Bank Provides Supplies and Assistance to the Homosassa Civic Club, Inc. Hurricane Relief Center

The Community Food Bank teamed up with Joe Fara, President of the Homosassa Civic Club, Inc., and his members to provide local residents with food and supplies in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The Homosassa Civic Club Hurricane Relief Center offers hot meals, clean-up kits, food, drinks, and other supplies.

Additionally, Senator Marco Rubio’s staff was on-site on October 17th to help residents apply for FEMA assistance.

Eastside Elementary

Seth Dupelle, Assistant Warehouse Manager for the Community Food Bank (second from right), along with the Assistant Principal and staff at Eastside Elementary in Brooksville prepare a Hurricane Milton relief distribution of food, water, and supplies for delivery to the Hernando County school.

PRIME Hurricane Relief

PRIME Hurricane Relief

The Community Food Bank distributed several pallets of PRIME Hydration drink as part of their Hurricane Milton relief efforts in Citrus and Hernando Counties. The Community Food Bank received the donation through the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay. PRIME Hydration, a subsidiary of CONGO™ Brands, was founded by entrepreneurs and influencers Logan Paul and KSI. Thanks to this donation, residents affected by Hurricane Milton can refuel with this zero added sugar, electrolyte rich hydration drink.

Hurricane Helene Response and Recovery

Hurricane Helene Response and Recovery

The Community Food Bank is out in full force distributing hurricane relief supplies to our 60+ partner agencies, as well as out in the community. We’ve received pallets of tarps from the Citrus County Emergency Operations Center (EOC), water, MRE’s and muck bucket clean-up kits. If you or someone you know has been affected, please know there are tons of volunteers helping to fill the gap to get these supplies distributed as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Our hearts and prayers go out to everyone who has suffered a loss as a result  devastating storm.

Please be sure to follow our Facebook page for the latest updates, resources, and important information as it becomes available.

These Ladies Are On a ROLL!

Woo hoo!  We’ve received another generous donation from the Crystal River Eagles Ladies Auxiliary 4272. Their gift of $1195 was matched by the Black Diamond Foundation for a total of $2390. That’s another 23,900 meals to feed those in need. THANK YOU, LADIES!

Big Hearts, Big Check!

Special thanks to Keith Taylor Law Group for their generous $500 donation. This will be matched by the Black Diamond Foundation for a total of $1000! Thank you for helping us feed 10,000 neighbors in need!

Pictured from left to right: Keith Taylor, Stephanie James, Operations Manager for the Community Food Bank, and Abby Taylor.

Double Your Donation!

Black Diamond Foundation Will Match Your Donation Dollar for Dollar

If you’ve been contemplating donating to the Community Food Bank (CFB), now is the perfect time to do so.

The Black Diamond Foundation will MATCH every donation from now until August 31st. So, when you donate $50, you are making $100 worth of IMPACT to help feed families throughout the Nature Coast.

This match also extends to funds raised through the HundredX survey campaign. Participating costs nothing, and you can raise up to $120 ($240 thanks to the Black Diamond match) for the CFB just by completing a few surveys.

Your Opinion Can Feed 1200!

Every $10 donated equals 100 meals – which is then doubled because of the Black Diamond Foundation Match – so if you complete the maximum number of surveys, you will feed 2400 just by giving your opinion!

It’s fun, easy, and takes less time than completing a level on your favorite mobile game app.

Please consider donating or participating in the HundredX survey campaign to feed families in need today!

Your Opinion Can Feed 1200!

Complete Surveys and Earn Cash to Support the Community Food Bank

The Community Food Bank has been selected to receive funds from HundredX and we need YOUR help. Participating costs nothing, and you can raise up to $120 for the CFB. The campaign runs from July 15th – August 13th. Here’s how it works:

Every $10 donated equals 100 meals, so if you complete the maximum number of surveys, you will feed 1200 just by giving your opinion! It’s fun, easy, and takes less time than completing a level on your favorite mobile game app. Best of all, you will be able to offer your opinion on retail stores, food items, airlines, wireless providers and countless other products and/or services you use on a regular basis.

“We can receive up to $5,000 from HundredX,” explains Barbara Sprague, CEO/Executive Director of the CFB. “If 50 people participate in this campaign and reach the $120 maximum, we could achieve that goal.”

Want to help? Then scan the QR code or text “DFG” to 90412 to sign up now.

Community Food Bank Issues Matching Donation Challenge

Community Food Bank Issues Matching Donation Challenge

Black Diamond Foundation Steps Up Again to Help Fund the Staggering Need for Food Assistance

The Community Food Bank (CFB) announces an opportunity for donors to double their contributions. The Black Diamond Foundation will match up to $50,000 of all donations made to the CFB from now until August 31st. Each $10 donation equates to 100 meals.

“We continue to scale our operations and seek out food to meet the tremendous need,” explains Barbara Sprague, CEO/Executive Director of the CFB. “Our mission is to End Hunger and Nourish Hope, which means making sure everyone who is hungry has access to nourishing food assistance.”

The CFB is the regional “hub” for food pantries, FEMA disaster response, the USDA, and other non-profit service agencies that provide food to individuals throughout Citrus and Hernando Counties.

  • Two (2) 7,000 square foot warehouses with walk-in cooler space to safely receive, store, and distribute food.
  • Three (3) forklifts.
  • A fleet of six (6) vehicles for food pick-ups and distribution (four refrigerated trucks, one van, and one pick-up truck.)
  • A minimal staff of nine (9) people – most specialized training, CDLs, and forklift operator certification – to pick-up, sort, deliver, and make sure the food gets to where it needs to go.

According to Sprague, it costs $123,710/month for the CFB to deliver its services. The CFB’s wide distribution across Citrus County allows everyone in Citrus County who needs food assistance to have access to it.

“We have a waiting list of agencies wanting to start programs,” says Sprague. “On average, our partnering agencies are able to provide their clients with free food relief for less than $.54/per pound. Compare that to budget-breaking retail prices which can be upwards of *$2.28 per pound and you can see the true impact we are making with services in our local communities.”

The CFB has responded to tremendous need for food assistance that has more than doubled over the past several years. The agency served approximately 26,000 individuals in 2019. It now provides food for more than 70,000 each month.

Would you like to positively impact the lives of thousands of individuals throughout Citrus County? Donate to the CFB by August 31st and it will be matched dollar for dollar, thus doubling the difference you make. 

Visit our donate page to learn more about becoming one of the CFB’s Hunger Heroes.

*According to move.org, the average cost per person for groceries is $415.53/month. This equals roughly $2.28/per pound.