The Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program is back, and this year’s goal is a big one: 108,000 pounds of nonperishable food collected across Sarasota and Manatee counties between Nov. 9 and Nov. 20. That’s 54 tons headed to local food pantries before Thanksgiving, and the number honors what would have been Nathan Benderson’s 108th birthday, the namesake of the park where the drive wraps up.
Donating is simple. From Nov. 9 through Nov. 19, drop shelf-stable items at four collection sites, including the Palmetto Police Department and Bradenton Fire Station 1. Then on Friday, Nov. 20, drive through Nathan Benderson Park between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., where volunteers will sort donations and send them to community partners in both counties. Schools, businesses, and neighborhood groups can request their own collection bins by reaching out to Tracy Wiggins, the program’s collection bin and registration contact.
There’s also a separate way to help: JOY FM’s T-Shirts for Turkeys drive collects frozen turkeys or cash contributions (suggested minimum $15) on Thursday, Nov. 12, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Bayside Church in Bradenton. Canned goods, frozen birds, or a few bucks, every bit stays local. So, which drop-off site is closest to you?
