Guest Author
When disasters strike Florida, they leave behind so much more than just physical damage. They disrupt lives, cut off access to food and clean water, and leave families in desperate need of help.
For more than 30 years, Farm Share has worked alongside communities, local partners, and state leaders to help fill that gap, providing food and supplies during some of Florida’s most challenging moments.
Last year, Florida faced the rare challenge of back-to-back major hurricanes when Helene and Milton battered parts of our state. In the first 30 days after each landfall, Farm Share distributed a combined 13.5 million pounds of food, water, and supplies to the hardest-hit areas, with over 7 million pounds reaching families in the first two weeks alone. These deliveries provided immediate relief as families worked to rebuild their homes, their communities, and their lives.
It wasn’t just the hurricanes that caused challenges in 2024. When tornadoes swept through Tallahassee and Hurricane Debby brought widespread flooding and damage, Farm Share was again there to help. These efforts are possible only because of the strong partnerships we’ve built with local farmers, volunteers, and organizations and thanks to the continued support of the Florida Legislature.
Legislative funding has been vital in helping us respond quickly when disasters hit. It has allowed us to strengthen the infrastructure needed to move food and supplies across the state — from warehouses to trucks to the final distribution points — so help arrives when it’s needed most.
While disaster relief is a major focus, it’s only part of what we do at Farm Share. Every day, millions of Floridians continue to struggle with food insecurity, especially as food prices remain high. Overall, we distributed 116 million pounds of food, water, and supplies last year, providing 97 million meals across all 67 Florida counties.
Our support reaches families who are doing their best but still have to make tough choices between groceries, rent, and other basic needs.
We work hard to make every resource go as far as possible, but rising costs make that increasingly difficult. Distributing food now costs us 13 cents per pound — up from 8 cents just a few years ago — yet we remain committed to making every dollar go as far as possible to help as many families as we can.
This Legislative Session, we’re hoping for continued support to help us meet the growing need for disaster relief and daily food assistance. Natural disasters are a fact of life in Florida, and when they happen, families will need us to help provide access to food, water, and supplies without delay.
With sustained funding, Farm Share can strengthen its year-round disaster response and continue to serve communities across the state.
Farm Share doesn’t do this work alone. It’s the result of a statewide effort — from the dedicated work of volunteers and local farmers to the support of policymakers — all coming together to help Florida families in times of need. We’re proud to be a part of that solution and look forward to continuing this important work together.
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Stephen Shelley is president and CEO of Farm Share, Inc., Florida’s homegrown food bank.
