From Farm Share
With June 1st marking the official start of the six-month hurricane season, Farm Share – Florida’s largest independent food bank – reminds Florida families to be prepared.
To help residents and visitors prepare for what is expected to be an extremely active hurricane season, Farm Share has launched a new disaster relief web page with information on hurricane supplies, upcoming food and hurricane supplies distribution events, and the organization’s disaster preparation and response efforts.
“Florida is one of the most beautiful places to live, but it’s also extremely vulnerable to the devastating impacts of hurricanes,” said Stephen Shelley, Farm Share President & CEO. “Taking the time to prepare for extended power outages and other storm damage can help save lives. We know that preparing supplies and recovering from hurricanes isn’t easy or cheap – that’s why our team is committed to supporting families both before and after the storm.”
As a reliable first responder, Farm Share often reaches affected communities within days of a storm's landfall. Still, Shelley noted, it's crucial for Florida families to have at least three days’ worth of food, water, and supplies for use until aid can safely be provided. Families can make sure they’ve stocked up the necessary supplies by downloading Farm Share’s hurricane preparedness checklist.
To help families gather necessary hurricane supplies, Farm Share will distribute preparedness supplies at five locations across Florida on Saturday, June 15. Locations for these events can be found on the disaster relief webpage and Farm Share’s distribution calendar.
In the immediate aftermath of a hurricane or other natural disaster, Farm Share’s relief efforts focus on the critical days and weeks immediately following a storm, frequently serving communities within 24 hours. After Hurricanes Ian in 2022 and Idalia in 2023, Farm Share delivered more than 70 truckloads of food, water, and supplies within 14 days of the storms making landfall. When disasters strike, Farm Share stands ready to help families in need.
About Farm Share
Established in 1991, Farm Share started the innovative concept of retrieving unused food from Florida farms and redistributing it to those in need. Operations began in Homestead and have expanded to serve the entire state of Florida as a homegrown food bank. Farm Share is the largest independent food bank in the state and third largest in the nation, and was recently named America’s No. 1 Food Bank by Wall Street 24/7. The nonprofit organization focuses on fighting food insecurity in Florida while simultaneously reducing food waste from local farms. The Farm Share team redistributes fresh fruits and vegetables from Florida farmers to benefit neighborhoods and communities in need throughout all 67 counties in Florida. To learn more about Farm Share, visit www.farmshare.org.
