The Community Foundation of the Florida Keys’ Upper Keys Advisory Council recently awarded three grants for $5,000 each to strengthen local food pantries, which play a key role in supporting families throughout the community.
The awards come from the foundation’s Upper Keys Future Fund, one of three hyper-local regional funds that provide grants to nonprofits serving the Upper, Middle and Lower Keys.
Beyond supporting local food pantries, the Upper Keys Advisory Council also recently played a substantial role in fully funding a Community Foundation grant to the Good Health Clinic for their Healthy Lives Program. The council’s $15,000 contribution helped bring the total award to $30,000, ensuring the program could move forward as designed. Healthy Lives is a collaboration between the Good Health Clinic and the S.O.S. Foundation, pairing access to medications with nutritional support for residents in the Upper Keys.
The food pantry grants will provide a boost to the S.O.S. Food Pantry at St. Justin Martyr Catholic Church in Key Largo, the pantry at Burton Memorial United Methodist Church in Tavernier, and the First Baptist Islamorada Community Ministry food bank.
Food pantries across the Keys have seen more visitors in recent months. A recent Keys Weekly report noted that some providers are serving more than twice as many clients as earlier in the year. Even as rising costs and temporary disruptions to federal assistance programs bring new families through their doors, local pantries continue to offer steady and welcoming support.
The Upper Keys Advisory Council recognized an opportunity to support these organizations during a particularly busy season. Funding from the Upper Keys Future Fund will help keep shelves stocked and expand access to fresh and healthy foods for residents in Key Largo, Tavernier, Islamorada and surrounding neighborhoods.
“Food insecurity remains a growing challenge and addressing it has become a primary mission of the Upper Keys Advisory Council,” said Suzi Youngberg, council chair. “As rising food costs continue to impact local families, these grants provide vital support to our food pantries and community kitchens. Donations to the Upper Keys Future Fund make this work possible and help ensure our neighbors have access to essential meals and nutrition.”
About the food pantries
Part of the Star of the Sea Foundation network, the pantry at St. Justin Martyr Catholic Church provides fresh produce, proteins and shelf-stable food to families across the Keys. S.O.S distributes the equivalent of 1.6 million meals each year through its two client-choice pantries, and both locations are seeing an increasing number of visitors this season. The grant will help ensure continued access to nutritious food for local households.
A long-serving emergency food provider in Tavernier, the Burton Memorial United Methodist Church food pantry offers groceries and essentials to Upper Keys residents. With demand rising, the need for consistent funding has grown as well. The pantry also welcomes volunteers year-round and encourages community members to get involved.
Serving residents throughout the Islamorada area, the First Baptist Islamorada Community Ministry Food Bank offers nutritious food and caring support to individuals and families facing short-term challenges or longer-term financial hardship. Through its Community Ministry, the church combines food assistance with counseling services to address both immediate needs and the deeper causes of food insecurity.
