ODBFP Receives Suncoast Credit Union Foundation Grant

This generous $7,500 investment will continue to support ODBFP’s Healthy Kids (K-12) School programming, currently serving 858 food-insecure students attending seven CCPS sites, including the following locations: Tommie Barfield Elementary; Lely Elementary; Lely High School; Manatee Elementary School; Manatee Middle School; Marco Island Charter Middle School and Marco Island Academy. Specifically, this grant will provide an estimated total of 1,500 Weekend Bags with two days of “kid-friendly” easy-to-prepare meals when they are not in school.

“Food insecurity hits our kids the hardest and can have life changing effects. The current economic uncertainty surrounding availability of federal and state funding levels to continue essential school (K-12) Breakfast and Lunch programs significantly increases these risks for the low-income students we serve throughout the 37-week academic year,” states Executive Director, Evelyn Rossetti-Ryan, EdD. “We are deeply grateful to the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation for supporting our efforts to ensure that no child goes hungry over the weekend and receives the nutritious food they need to return to school on Monday prepared to learn and reach their full potential.”

Founded as a 501-c-3 organization in 1990, the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation is sponsored entirely by the credit union specifically to support the education, health and emotional well-being of the children in the communities they serve. Since its inception, more than $61 million (including $3.5 million in scholarships) has been generously contributed to organizations and initiatives throughout Florida to support this mission.