IN 2023 WE DISTRIBUTED 4,342,644 POUNDS OF FOOD AND CRITICAL SUPPLIES TO RESIDENTS IN CITRUS, SUMTER, AND HERNANDO COUNTIES. RENOVATIONS WERE COMPLETED ON OUR ENDING HUNGER CAMPUS WAREHOUSES AND WE SET TO WORK ON MEETING THE ELEVATED NEEDS OF RESIDENTS IMPACTED BY HURRICANE IDALIA IN ADDITION TO OUR POVERTY LEVEL, HOMELESS AND ALICE POPULATION CLIENTS. WITH SUPPORT FROM THE BLACK DIAMOND FOUNDATION, CITRUS COUNTY HOSPITAL BOARD, US FAMILY FOUNDATION, PUBLIX CHARITIES AND INDIVIDUAL DONORS, WE BEGAN TO INCREASE THE NUTRITIONAL LEVELS OF OUR FOOD RELIEF WITH MORE FRESH PRODUCE, LEAN PROTEINS, AND WHOLE GRAINS TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE HEALTH OF ALL RESIDENTS BOTH DURING CRISES AND IN LONG-TERM RECOVERY. SUPPORTING OUR OLDER CLIENTS AND CHILDREN WITH NUTRIENT-RICH FOODS WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PRIORITY WE INTRODUCE TO ALL EMERGENT RESPONSE GOING FORWARD. WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT OUR 60+ AMAZING PANTRY PARTNERS IN THEIR DISTRIBUTIONS AND WRAP-AROUND SERVICES THAT PROVIDE A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO SOLVING POVERTY AS WELL AS WORK TO CREATE ACCESSIBLE HUBS OF RESOURCES AND REMOVE THE BARRIERS TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY FOR OUR RESIDENTS IN NEED.
