Pictured: Goodwill Manasota president Donn Githens (left) with team member Jenna Karbowski at the Goodwill corporate campus in Bradenton

While Goodwill Manasota is well known for accepting donations of gently-used items from the community and selling those goods in its retail stores – with revenues funding its mission of changing lives through the power of work – it's not just items like clothing, home goods, books, sporting goods and electronics being accepted. For many years, Goodwill has placed food barrels at all donor doors at its stores as well as at its attended donation centers in Sarasota and Manatee counties; the beneficiaries are The Food Bank of Manatee, owned and operated by Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee, and All Faiths Food Bank in Sarasota and DeSoto counties. Most-needed items are peanut butter, canned items such as soup, fruit, vegetables, stew, fish and beans, pasta, rice and cereals. Community members are asked not to include any items that are older than 2-3 years, opened or used, dented/damaged, meant for decorations or displays, or that do not have a label. The Food Bank of Manatee is a PLUS program of Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee. The Food Bank of Manatee provides nutritional assistance and caring supportive services to individuals in need throughout Manatee County by distributing food to nonprofit agencies including food pantries, soup kitchens, and churches. Together with its partners, All Faiths Food Bank provides healthy solutions to end hunger in our community. All Faiths Food Bank, the only food bank and largest hunger relief organization in Sarasota and DeSoto counties, serves individuals in need through its programs and member network that includes nearly 200 human services organizations, schools, faith-based and secular organizations, and other groups that serve the community.  The organizations plan to continue the food collections at Goodwill locations. 

Pictured: Goodwill Manasota president Donn Githens (left) with team member Jenna Karbowski at the Goodwill corporate campus in Bradenton

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