Venice Yacht Club Charitable Foundation

All Faiths Food Bank has been a Certified Member of Feeding America since 1990. It has been the only Food Bank serving Sarasota and Desoto counties. In 2016, the Food Bank changed its mission to represent a shift in how hunger is addressed with an understanding that hunger is a health issue. Its mission is now “Together with our partners, we provide healthy solutions to end hunger in our community.”

On Thursday, May 16, nine volunteers from the Venice Yacht Club assisted a group of Food Bank volunteers in packing and sorting 10,500 pounds of food. This effort helped deliver 17,250 meals throughout Sarasota and Desoto counties. During the event, the VYCCF Vice-Chair Joan Bowen presented a $5,000 grant to AFFB’s CEO Sandra Frank. The grant is dedicated to the “Campaign Against Summer Hunger” which feeds approximately 40,000 children who participate in the School Lunch Program, but will lack that nutrition during the summer months. The key components of this program include backpacks filled with nutritious foods and snacks as well as mobile and area food pantries that ensure nutritious food and meals are available where these children live. The VYCCF, besides volunteering every month at the central distribution center, has been an active partner, contributing $70,000 since 2013 for programs and equipment supporting the fight against hunger in our community.

VYCCF also presented a $2,100 grant to Venice High School’s Marine Corps JROTC on May 24. They are currently raising funds to build an Obstacle Course which will be available to all student organizations on campus. It will be a tool to develop camaraderie, leadership and teamwork within a group, team, or club. Please contact Kevin Collins, our Ambassador to this program, for more information.

Bill and Lynne Rogers of VYC have offered a $5,000 challenge for first time donors (since November, 2016) to VYCCF. You may donate any amount up to $5,000 which will be matched. This challenge will run through October 31, 2019. An addendum to my highlights last month on Jewish Family and Children's Services, The Michael and Lynn Nemser Family Charitable Foundation has given a directed grant of $1,000. to support the Camp Mariposa Program. It runs for a full weekend every eight weeks. Campers know they have a special bond because each comes from a family affected by addiction and trauma. As a result, over 70% of the campers are in foster care or live with relative caregivers. The camp provides a safe environment for campers to process their experiences; a commonly used phrase is “whatever is mentionable is manageable.” Thank you so much, Michael and Lynn! And the generous giving goes on!

With sincere appreciation to all,
Noni Lavelle

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updated: July 2019 Currents