We are super excited to have been selected by the Walmart Community Grants Team and Walmart store #1104 located at 2461 E Gulf to Lake Hwy in Inverness to receive a $2000 grant designated to fight hunger throughout our community. We will use these funds to provide 20,000 meals which will be distributed through our 60+ partner agencies. Special thank you to Walmart for supporting our efforts and for always making a difference in their local communities!
The Black Diamond Foundation recently donated $50,000 to the Community Food Bank (CFB) to assist in their critical food relief efforts throughout the area. This donation equates to 500,000 meals. In response, the CFB is issuing a “Million Meals Challenge” to raise an additional $50,000 so the agency can provide their 60+ partner agencies with critical food and supplies that allow them to continue feeding more than 70,000 people in need each month.
“The diversity of people needing food assistance is staggering,” explains Barbara Sprague, Executive Director of the CFB. “The majority of people served by our partnering agencies are working individuals who are unable to make ends meet as the cost of food and living in general continues to rise.”
The Black Diamond Foundation (BDF) has been an ongoing, loyal supporter of the CFB’s fight against hunger. The foundation continues to step up when the CFB identifies a critical need.
“In addition to making donations that help us to provide food, the BDF has helped us purchase transport vehicles which are essential for food pickups and transport,” says Sprague. “We couldn’t do what we do without the generosity of the philanthropic men and women of the BDF who continue to come along side of us to support our mission to end hunger and nourish hope throughout our community.”
Want to be part of the “Million Meals Challenge?” There are three easy ways to donate:
“Every donation makes a difference,” says Sprague. “We hope to achieve our matching challenge goal of $50,000 by April 30th.”
Special thank you to our good friend and supporter, Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast, who dropped by the Fox 96.7 studios to present a check in the amount of $200 from an anonymous donor in honor of the late Detective James “Jimmy” West. This donation will provide 2000 meals to feed individuals in need throughout our area!
Would you also like to make a donation in honor of someone special? Remember those who have passed or commemorate a loved one on their birthday, anniversary, etc. with a donation in their name. When making your donation, just add a note in the “Comments” section to identify who you are recognizing and we will send a special “Thank You” card for the contribution in their name.
The Community Food Bank (CFB) and Jenkins Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram (CDJR) of Homosassa are partnering on an initiative to fill showroom trucks full of food to help fight food insecurity throughout the Nature Coast. The public can stop by Jenkins CDJR of Homosassa located at 1005 S. Suncoast Blvd. anytime between now and the end of the month to drop off a food donation. The goal is to be able to provide hundreds of pounds of food to help feed school-aged children during spring break.
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Many children throughout the community rely on free or reduced school lunches, which are not available on weekends and during times when school is not in session. According to Barbara Sprague, Executive Director and CEO of the CFB, the agency is specifically seeking shelf stable items, particularly food appealing to kids as spring break approaches, including:
Citrus 95.3 is also a sponsor of the event and will be broadcasting live from Jenkins CDJR on Friday, February 24th from 12:00 noon – 2:00pm. Anyone who comes out an makes a donation on that day can enjoy a hamburger cookout and be entered in a drawing to win free oil changes for one year, a tank of gasoline, vehicle detailing, local restaurant gift certificates, and more.
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All of the food donated will be distributed by the CFB to their 60+ partner agencies who collectively feed more than 70,000 individuals in need each month.
“Food insecurity is a major problem throughout our area,” explains Sprague. “For some, it’s about not having any food. For others, it’s about not having the means to afford the right kinds of food to keep their families healthy. The food we provide assists all individuals in need, including those who are homeless, senior citizens on a fixed income, and people who are employed but still not able to make ends meet, especially as the cost of food continues to rise.”
The Community Food Bank (CFB) is excited about being able to provide mobile phone charging stations throughout the community. They are installing the first of many they hope to be able to provide thanks to a grant partnership with Duke Energy. In an innovative partnership, CFB and Duke Energy have teamed up to offer these safe, accessible charging stations to help ensure individuals in need can connect with family, friends, and resources to help elevate their situations.
According to Barbara Sprague, CFB Executive Director and CEO, the agency is placing charging stations at various pantry locations throughout Citrus and Hernando Counties including Daystar Life Center’s temporary location at 9020 W. Atlas Drive in Homosassa and the Citrus Cold Weather Shelter at 5113 S. Suncoast Blvd in Homosassa.
“Individuals in need can acquire free mobile phones and minutes through a variety of social service programs,” explains Sprague. “The problem is they have no place to charge these devices, which are often used to help them keep in touch with family, friends, resources, and even their workplaces, as there are many homeless individuals who hold down jobs.”
Sprague says that individuals who are homeless often times must trespass on private property to find charging outlets.
“Sometimes a business or individual will welcome them and give them permission to charge their mobile phone, but that is a rare exception,” says Sprague. “The new charging stations we are placing at safe places throughout the community will make access to charging their devices more accessible, easier, and better guided.”
According to Sprague, the charging stations will also give staff at local food pantries and homeless shelters the opportunity to assist individuals with navigating resources and even encourage clients to reach out to family and friends in efforts to help them get stabilized.
“We often take for granted just how much we depend on our mobile phones,” concludes Sprague, “For individuals in need, these devices are a lifeline to resources, job opportunities, and the connection to family and friends they need to help them get back on their feet.”
The Community Food Bank wants to thank all of our Hunger Heroes who donated their time and money to help feed our neighbors in need.
Thanks to your support, we made a significant impact and fed more than 70,000 each month through our partner agencies!
The Community Food Bank (CFB) continues to expand, providing food and supplies to 60+ partner agencies that offer services to individuals and families throughout our area. The increase in the demand for food assistance has more than doubled over the past three years. CFB partnering agencies served approximately 30,000 individuals in need per month in 2019. That number sharply increased to 70,000 per month in 2022.
Barbara Sprague, CFB Executive Director and CEO, is grateful to all of the corporate and individual donors who continue to step up to the plate to meet the continually increasing demand. One organization that has been supporting the CFB annually for several years is the Citrus County Community Charitable Foundation (CCCCF). This past year, the organization donated $36,704.50 to the CFB to purchase and refurbish a 2016 Hino 22’ refrigerated box truck.
According to Sprague, the CFB was in desperate need of another refrigerated truck and the CCCCF was happy to oblige through a Special Category Grant.
“This truck is on the road and helping us secure more than 60,000 additional meals each week,” explains Sprague. “Because it’s a refrigerated truck, we are able to help bolster nutritional levels by using it to acquire and distribute fresh produce and lean proteins to our agency partners.”
The addition of this new refrigerated box truck increases the CFB fleet to a total of four trucks and a van.
The Community Food Bank (CFB) has been selected to receive $1 from every $2.99 Community Bag sold during the month of December 2022 at:
The CFB has also been selected to receive $1 from every Bloomin’ 4 Good bouquet sold during the month of January 2023 at:
Your donation to the Community Food Bank (CFB) truly makes a difference!
Listen to CFB CEO & Executive Director Barbara Sprague talk with Bo Hamilton of Fox 96.7.
