Mayors' Feed the Hungry Program Targets 109,000 Pounds of Food

The Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program is launching a community-wide food drive at Nathan Benderson Park to collect 109,000 pounds of food for Suncoast families.

Running from November 9 through November 20, the initiative aims to provide food assistance to residents in Sarasota and Manatee counties ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. According to a report from mysuncoast.com, the drive’s ambitious target is set to honor the legacy of local philanthropist Nathan Benderson on what would have been his 109th birthday.

Organizers are working to mitigate the impact of rising everyday expenses, which continue to drive a growing need for local food assistance. The program functions as a closed-loop system for community support, ensuring that resources gathered locally are immediately redirected to those in need.

“When the food comes into us, it goes right back out to those agencies that day and is back with those families within a week,” Tracy Wiggins, from the Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program, told mysuncoast.com. “So it literally stays within the community.”

A tribute to Nathan Benderson

The timing of the drive serves as a specific tribute to the man for whom the park is named. On November 20, the community will converge at the park to celebrate Benderson’s legacy through collective action.

Marnie Buchsbaum and Cheyenne Slate with Nathan Benderson Park joined the discussion regarding the initiative to highlight how the park serves as a central hub for the region. They said that the location is a consistent gathering place for sports, recreation, and philanthropic efforts.

“Nathan Benderson Park is always a gathering place for the community, whether it’s for sport, whether for fun, whether for giving back,” Buchsbaum said, as reported by mysuncoast.com.

Mobilizing the Suncoast community

To reach the 109,000-pound goal, organizers have deployed approximately 1,500 collection boxes throughout the surrounding area. These boxes allow businesses, churches, schools, and neighborhood associations to act as localized collection points.

Mayors’ Feed the Hungry hosts Thanksgiving food drive at Nathan Benderson Park — ABC7 Sarasota

The scope of the support includes more than just traditional pantry staples. While nonperishable canned and boxed goods are the primary focus, the program is also accepting unexpired baby food, pet food, and gift cards to provide direct relief to families.

The economic reality for many residents remains precarious. Wiggins emphasized the thin margin between stability and crisis for many neighbors, stating, “A lot of people are just one paycheck away from that food insecurity.”

Logistics for the November 20 drop-off

A large-scale community drop-off event is scheduled for Friday, November 20, at Nathan Benderson Park. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is designed for high-volume efficiency.

To facilitate the process, volunteers will be stationed to unload donations directly from vehicles, allowing residents to contribute without leaving their cars. Beyond the logistics of the drive, the park will host music and free giveaways to mark the occasion of Benderson’s birthday.

Once the donations arrive at the park on November 20, they will be sorted and distributed to 20 different food agencies across Sarasota and Manatee counties.

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