ANNA MARIA – On the final day of 2020, the Roser Food Pantry received a $30,000 check from the Mayors Feed the Hungry organization.
On Thursday, Dec. 31, Mayors Feed the Hungry Chairman Joel Swallow presented Roser Food Pantry Chairman Jack Brennan with a check commemorating the $30,000 donation made possible by the $70.5 million in federal CARES Act funds that Manatee County received earlier this year. The CARES Act assists individuals, organizations and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Using CARES Act funds, the Mayors Feed the Hungry program also provided $3,000 to All Island Denominations, the Holmes Beach-based organization that represents the Anna Maria Island churches’ collective efforts to provide mortgage, rent and utility bill assistance to Island residents and employees in need.
When presenting the check to Brennan on Thursday morning, Swallow said, “On behalf of Mayors Feed the Hungry – that’s nine mayors and two commission chairs with Sarasota and Manatee county – we’re proud to offer this check of $30,000 to the food pantry here in Anna Maria, for Jack and all the people and all the churches that come together to serve.”
Swallow then credited former Manatee County Commission Chair Betsy Benac for the assistance she provided before leaving office in mid-November.
“Betsy Benac was the key person that helped drive it through and we really appreciate it,” Swallow said.
“It was good timing,” Benac said. “We knew that everyone was trying to get food out to the community, the money was available and we had a great organization in Mayors Feed the Hungry.”
Benac thanked Deputy County Administrator Karen Stewart for her assistance.
“It’s not easy to get that amount of money out in a short time. It really takes a lot of legwork, but they got it done,” Benac said of the county staff.
Benac also noted that the deadline to apply for and receive CARES Act funds has been extended into this year.
Shirley Pearson, executive director of the Mt. Carmel Community Resource Center Palmetto, attended Thursday’s check presentation.
“I’m truly grateful to Commissioner Benac for all the help and support she gave us to get these funds. I’m truly grateful to her and the county for what they did because it helps so many people in our community. When I think about it, tears almost come to my eyes,” Pearson said in regard to the CARES Act funds distributed countywide.
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy played a key role in getting the Roser Food Pantry and All Island Denominations added to the list of organizations eligible for Mayors Feed the Hungry funding assistance.
“There’s never been any of the Island charities included in the Mayors Feed the Hungry. I thought it was important that people knew we have a need out here on the Island and it would be good to channel some of the funds out here to Anna Maria. I’m really pleased we were able to accomplish that,” Murphy said.
“This is great not only for the food pantry but also for All Island Denominations. Both of those agencies do a tremendous job of helping the people that live and work here on the Island who have been impacted by COVID. I thank Mayors Feed the Hungry for including the Island and making life for our less fortunate people easier and a little bit better. A lot of people think it’s nothing but wealthy people living out here, but that just simply isn’t the case. We have a lot of people that need help,” Murphy said.
All Island Denominations’ (AID) President Cornelia Zanetti shared her thoughts on the $3,000 that the organization received.
“This has helped A.I.D. help Anna Maria Elementary school, because we have already spent $2,200 for Christmas helping the families, the employees and other people here in the community. We pay the bills for electric, mortgages, rents and we coordinate with Jack to get the food. We thank everybody in the community who sends up donations to help the poor and the needy here on Anna Maria Island, and we sure do have those people in need,” Zanetti said.
Food pantry programs
Speaking last, Brennan said, “I think it’s going to help a lot, especially since we can use portions of the money in 2021. That was important to me. This is going to boost the Sponsored Food Recipient Program we have,” Brennan said.
Serving as an extension of Roser Memorial Community Church and the Roser Food Pantry, the Sponsored Food Recipient Program provides a monthly allowance of Publix gift cards to those struggling to make ends meet.
Each anonymous individual or family that receives Sponsored Food Recipient Program support is sponsored by a church member who assesses their need and determines their monthly assistance.
Brennan said the church and the food pantry spend approximately $4,000 per month on the Sponsored Food Recipient Program. He said the food pantry spends between $12,000 and $18,000 a year purchasing food to supplement the food donated by the community.
If you or someone you know needs Roser Food Pantry assistance, please call 941-778-0414.
If you or someone you know needs All Island Denominations assistance, please call 941-725-2433.
