Release: Giving Thanks — Feeding Florida Reflects on 2024 Hurricane Relief Efforts

Thanks to donors and partners, millions of critical supplies reached families across Florida during a challenging season

TALLAHASSEE, FL – This Thanksgiving, Feeding Florida, the state’s network of nine food banks serving all 67 counties, pauses to express heartfelt gratitude for the donors, partners, and communities who made this year’s hurricane relief efforts possible. In a season marked by multiple storms – Debby, Helene, and Milton – the Feeding Florida network rose to the challenge, delivering hope, fuel, and connection to families in need.
 
“Our food banks are not only on the front lines of hunger, but also serve as first responders during disasters,” said Robin Safley, CEO of Feeding Florida. “Because we’re embedded in our communities and strategically staged with resources across the state, we can respond immediately, providing critical resources when and where they are needed most. This year, thanks to our generous donors and dedicated partners, we were able to fill vital gaps, ensuring no Floridian was left behind.”
 
In the wake of these storms, Feeding Florida food banks distributed more than:

• 556,000 MREs (Meals Ready-to-Eat)
• 1.85 million bottles of water
• 420,000 meals
• 219,000 food boxes
• 3.8 million pounds of food and produce

 Major contributions from partners like the Duke Energy Foundation and Florida Blue made this incredible impact possible. 

Duke Energy Foundation donated $100,000 after Hurricane Helene to the hardest hit areas, enabling Feeding Florida to maximize efficiency from pre-storm preparation to accessing more food and resources as the various storms made landfall in Florida. In addition, Duke’s goal of uplifting communities includes getting involved in person. Local employee teams have signed up to volunteer with food banks in areas across the state, from the Big Bend to Tampa Bay, able to see the results of their generosity first-hand.
 
 “Our partnership with Feeding Florida demonstrates the power of coming together to support our communities,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “Through their tireless efforts, families received critical supplies when they needed them most, underscoring the importance of standing together during times of crisis.”

Florida Blue’s dedication to health and hunger allowed Feeding Florida to procure additional truckloads of food boxes after Hurricane Milton when the in-state supply was diminishing. The Florida Blue generous donation resulted in more than 6,000 emergency food boxes for relief efforts across Florida’s west coast, which contained shelf-stable nutritious food to help the dietary needs of the families in impacted areas and were specially designed for those living without power or key resources.
 
“We know that access to nutritious food is essential to building healthier communities,” said Susan Towler, Executive Director, Florida Blue Foundation. “That’s why we are proud to support Feeding Florida’s mission, ensuring families across the state not only survive but thrive, even in the face of disasters.”
 
This year’s efforts would not have been possible without the coordinated efforts of key partners like the Florida Division of Emergency Management (DEM) and the Department of Children and Families (DCF), whose collaboration streamlined relief efforts and prevented duplication of services.
 
As Floridians gather this Thanksgiving, Feeding Florida gives thanks to everyone who played a part in helping us deliver more than meals this year.