Southwest Florida Food Pantries & Ministries
While all of our congregations support local feeding programs, a number of them house on-site food ministries, either meals or packaged groceries, or both. Below is a list of food related missions and ministries that are both housed at our congregations, and open to the public:
Note: Updated summer of 2020. Because of COVID-19, some ministries have been temporarily discontinued or modified in terms of time or scale. Please call ahead to volunteer or support.
Bradenton:
The Lord’s Pantry: A mission of Christ Episcopal Church that is supported by the Christ Church Thrift Shop. Food is donated by members and the students, faculty and parents of Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School. 415 42nd St. W., Bradenton, FL 34205; 941-747-3709
St. George’s Food Pantry: The St. George pantry serves many of the people in the Bayshore area between Sarasota and Bradenton. They are supported by the Food Bank of Manatee County, as well as a wide variety of community groups and neighboring churches. 912 63rd Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34207; 941-755-3606
Englewood
Jubilee Center: The parish’s Englewood food pantry is a key mission of the church; it is supported by the parish, the wider community and St. Andrew, Boca Grande. 401 South Broadway, Englewood, FL 34223; 941-474-3140
Clearwater
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church: Clearwater Food Pantry and F.E.A.S.T (Palm Harbor Food Pantry) – Food pantry and onsite thrift shop. 3200 N. McMullen Booth Rd. (Countryside), Clearwater. Phone: (727) 796-5514.
Ft. Myers
All Souls Food Pantry: The parish operates a Wednesday weekly food pantry supported by the Harry Chapin Food Bank. Other churches support All Souls, including St. Therese Catholic Parish. 14640 N Cleveland Ave, North Fort Myers, FL, 33903; 239-656-6229
Indian Rocks Beach
Beach Community Food Pantry: The pantry has been providing food for anyone who comes in since 2008. The pantry is run by parishioners and many neighbors from outside the parish, including the Rotary Club, local restaurants, the city of Indian Rocks Beach and local fire and rescue units. They also offer holiday meals to single mothers and the elderly. 1615 1st Street, Indian Rocks Beach, FL, 33785; 727-595-2374
Palmetto
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church: The parish operates a food pantry in part of its parish hall. 1010 24th Avenue West, Palmetto, FL 34221; 941-722-5292
Pinellas Park
St. Giles Emergency Food Pantry: The Pantry came into existence in 1977 when a member of the church expressed her need for food to the priest. They have fed over 500,000 hungry people in the Pinellas Park area. Although we service central Pinellas County, no one is refused, for any reason. Depending on the size of the family, they are given one or two bags of canned and dry foods that is a three-day supply. When extra donations are made we also supply bread, crackers, treats, and sometimes fresh produce. An ongoing on-campus food pantry for 30 years, open Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. Giles Episcopal Church, 8271 52nd St. North, Pinellas Park. Phone: (727) 544-6856.
Port Charlotte
St. James Food Pantry: They provide assistance to those in need from Charlotte County. 1365 Viscaya Dr, Port Charlotte, FL 33952; (941) 627-4000
Sarasota
St. Wilfred Food Pantry: This was a ministry of a neighboring church, which was moved when they could no longer support it. It offers frozen food, meats, fresh bread, as well as canned goods. Fridays at St. Wilfred's Episcopal Church, 3773 Wilkinson Rd., Sarasota. Phone: (941) 924-7436.
St. Petersburg
Benison Farm: An actual farm behind St. Augustine, St. Petersburg, supporting local food pantries. A project of St. Augustine and St. Thomas congregations in St. Petersburg. They need volunteers year round. Visit St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, 2920 26th Ave. S., St. Petersburg, FL 33712 Call (727) 639-2123 or email [email protected]
St. Bartholomew’s Food Pantry: The parish, on a visible corner of Route 19 in southern Pinellas, operates a food ministry out of their parish hall. They are also supported by other parishes in the St. Petersburg deanery, including St. Thomas, Snell Isle. 3747 34th St. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33711; 727-867-7015
St. Bede Little Free Pantry: The Little Free Pantry at St. Bede is a part of the larger national program, whereby small food items are left inside a public box, for anyone to take. 2500 16th St N, St. Petersburg, FL 33704
Valrico
Transforming Lives for Christ: This is a ministry of Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church encouraging the church family and others to provide the power of His word and a hot meal to those in need in the Brandon, Valrico, Dover and Plant City areas. We are currently providing hot meals the 2nd & 4th Saturday of the month for Bread of Refuge in Brandon and San Jose Mission in Dover, local meals on wheels and drive-up meals on-site. During the CoVid-19 pandemic the ministry has been continuing within the CDC guidelines and have served nearly 2000 meals to our neighboring community. Our goal is to expand the ministry further into the community as the need increases. Holy Innocents’ Episcopal is located 604 N. Valrico Road, Valrico (813) 689-3130.
Other Outreach Programs
In addition to food pantries, many of our parishes operate other comprehensive feeding minstries that respond to local needs. Note: due to COVID-19, many ministries have been temporarily suspended. Please call ahead to help:
Brooksville
Thursday Noon Outreach -- Ongoing group ministry providing encouragement and accountability for local people in dire straits (e.g., hungry, homeless, alone). At St. John’s: Worship, a simple meal, caring conversation, Bible study, prayer and limited financial assistance. St. John's Episcopal Church, 200 S. Brooksville Ave., Brooksville. Phone: (352) 796-9112.
Tampa
Project FAITH -- (Food And Information for The Homeless) Lunch Program -- Weekdays, volunteers from St.Andrew’s pack and distribute 60 bag lunches to the homeless and needy living on the streets in downtown Tampa. This program is fully supported by donations from church members and their time shopping, packing and serving. St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 509 E. Twiggs St., Tampa. Phone: (813) 221-2035
Zephyrhills
Soup Kitchen – The congregation feeds the public on Saturdays at St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church, 5855 16th St., Zephyrhills. The program is through the Zephyrhills Senior Center. Phone: (813) 782-1202.
