SRQ DAILY Nov 29, 2025
Saturday Perspectives Edition
"Cash allows us to buy the right food, in the right quantities, at the best prices, ensuring families receive nutritious, reliable support when they need it most."
As hunger deepens across our region, the compassion of our community continues to shine. Whenever Sarasota and DeSoto counties face a crisis — a government shutdown, a hurricane, a pandemic — people step forward to help their neighbors. That generosity is part of what makes this community extraordinary.
Right now, we are again relying on that spirit of giving. Visits to All Faiths Food Bank are up 26% over last year and, with up to 20,000 households losing SNAP benefits for two weeks, more families are turning to us to catch up and keep food on the table. And as living expenses and the cost of groceries continue to rise, we expect demand to remain high in the months to come.
In moments like these, one question comes up again and again: What’s the most effective way to help?
For many years, food drives and donation barrels provided an important portion of the food we distributed. We remain deeply grateful for every person who has ever dropped a can into a collection bin.
But today — with need surging and our capacity stretched — cash donations do far more to feed our community than donated food ever can.
Thanks to strong partnerships with farmers, manufacturers and national retailers, we can purchase large quantities of fresh, high-quality food at wholesale prices. That means every dollar donated stretches dramatically further than a dollar spent in a grocery store.
Monetary donations also allow our team to provide a balance of foods that follow USDA guidelines. With cash on hand, we can ensure families receive produce, dairy, protein, grains and pantry staples — and we can respond quickly to emergency needs while offering culturally preferred foods that honor the diversity of the communities we reach.
Food drives, while well-intentioned, are not always ideal for meeting today’s scale of hunger. Donated items must be stored, sorted and inspected for safety — and are often discarded if damaged or expired. This requires significant space, volunteer labor and time — resources that are already under enormous pressure.
Of course, if someone has food they are eager to donate — from a school collection, a business drive, or a pantry clean-out — we will always make sure it reaches neighbors who need it.
But if your goal is to make the greatest possible impact, particularly during this crisis, a financial gift is the single most powerful way to help. Cash allows us to buy the right food, in the right quantities, at the best prices, ensuring families receive nutritious, reliable support when they need it most.
No matter the amount, your generosity helps us stretch every dollar to feed more children, families, seniors and veterans in need in Sarasota and DeSoto counties.
Nelle S. Miller is the President and CEO of All Faiths Food Bank. 
The Sarasota Farmers Market Vendors Incorporated (“SFMV”) has been established as a not for-profit organization under laws of the State of Florida, continuing the 40+ year tradition of enhancing and improving the quality of life in Sarasota. Our charitable mission is to create a social opportunity for residents and visitors to gather and interact, to bring foot traffic to downtown Sarasota sustaining the economic viability of the entire downtown area, and to provide a venue for other not-for-profit organizations benefiting Sarasota.
Sarasota Farmer's Market, N Lemon Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
SCFD is proud to welcome the community into the fire stations, continuing the tradition of open houses. These open houses are a wonderful opportunity for residents to engage directly with neighborhood firefighters. Visit our website to view the open house schedule.
Multiple Location, Multiple Locations
Join us every Sunday morning at 9am for a walk to the Bayfront and back on a route that is just under 2 miles. Meet at 99 Bottles Downtown Sarasota and end at the same location in approximately 30-40 minutes, depending on pace. This weekly walking social club is an opportunity to connect with other locals.
99 Bottles, 1445 2nd St Sarasota, FL 34236
A bi-monthly open jam session for professional and non-professional musicians in the Geldbart Auditorium at the downtown Selby Library. The jam begins at 5:30 pm until 7:30 pm. Event is free and open to all. A viewing audience is welcome and encouraged. Piano, bass and drum are on site. A fun, social and entertaining event. Come, sign up to play or sing, or just come out to watch and enjoy.
Selby Library, 1331 1st St, Sarasota
Selby Gardens is excited to collaborate with British contemporary artist, Rebecca Louise Law, on The Orchid Show 2025 at the Downtown Sarasota campus. Exploring the theme of survival, the exhibition will feature an immersive art installation of dried flowers by Law in The Richard and Ellen Sandor Museum of Botany & the Arts. Accompanying Law's installation will be a striking presentation of living orchids and other plants in the Display Conservatory.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St, Sarasota, FL 34236
A powerful exhibition paying tribute to the valor, resilience, and humanity of American veterans. This year, the exhibition focuses on the Vietnam War, spotlighting the experiences and sacrifices of the men and women who served during one of the most complex and contested chapters in U.S. military history. Through evocative painted portraits created by Ringling College students and faculty, viewers are invited to witness the deeply personal stories of local Vietnam veterans.
Galleries of Ringling College of Art and Design, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34234
An inspirational gospel musical originally penned by poet/playwright Langston Hughes that retells the biblical Nativity story. The music is an exuberant mash-up of gospel, blues, spiritual and Christmas music, paired with the poetry of Hughes and the creativity and heart of WBTT. Nate Jacobs adapted and is directing the show; WBTT’s Resident Choreographer, Donald Frison, will be assistant director.
Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, 1012 N Orange Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
Enjoy music, theater, literature, and more as part of the “Hermitage Sunsets at Benderson Park” series. Each hour-long program features selections of work, as well as candid and engaging conversations. The first event in this series will be the “2025 Hermitage Cross Arts Collaborative,” featuring Shawn Allison (ensembleNew SRQ) and Tom Lubben (Key Chorale).
Benderson Park, 5851 Nathan Benderson Cir, Sarasota, FL 34235
Join us under the stars for a night of good eating and great observing! We have partnered with the Local Group of Deep Sky Observers (LGDSO) to bring Sidewalk Astronomy to The Bishop. At this free event, you’ll have a chance to see Jupiter, Saturn, and much more through powerful telescopes!
Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, 201 10th Street West Bradenton FL 34205
Lights in Bloom will feature more than two million lights illuminating the gardens and walkways of our Downtown Sarasota campus and is a fun holiday tradition that offers photo opportunities, activities, and entertainment.
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 1534 Mound St, Sarasota, FL 34236
The holiday favorite featuring the beloved classic choreography and the beauty of Tchaikovsky’s score.
Sarasota Opera House, 61 N Pineapple Ave, Sarasota, FL 34236
Magic is in the air as Sarasota Orchestra journeys to locales both real and imagined. Dukas’ The Sorcerer’s Apprentice brings to life Goethe’s tale of magic gone awry and was featured in Disney’s original Fantasia. The virtuosic Suite from Close Encounters of the Third Kind reminds us why film composer John Williams is revered as one of the most gifted orchestral composers of our time. Spanish guitar virtuoso Pablo Sáinz-Villegas takes us to the Royal Palace of Aranjuez in Rodrigo’s popular guitar concerto.
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N Tamiami Trl, Sarasota, FL 34236
SRQ DAILY is a daily e-newsletter produced by SRQ MEDIA. Note: The views and opinions expressed in the Saturday Perspectives Edition and the Letters department of SRQ DAILY are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement by SRQ Media. The views expressed by individuals are their own, and their appearance in this section does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. SRQ DAILY includes content excerpted from news releases as a public service. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by SRQ DAILY. For rates on SRQ DAILY banner advertising and sponsored content opportunities, please contact Robinson Valverde at 941-365-7702 x703 or via email |
Powered by Sarasota Web Design | Unsubscribe
