Since 2023, Bishop-Parker Foundation and our initiative partner, Creation In Common, have been working with local food leaders, community stakeholders, and food-insecure neighbors to amplify the voices of those experiencing food insecurity, strengthen the informal network of organizations addressing hunger in Manatee County, and gain an understanding of the flow of food into the County and its subsequent distribution.
As a result of these efforts, we now have a clearer understanding of the unmet needs across the County, have established trusted relationships with key partners, and are seeing the benefits of bringing leading community experts together around this issue.
The Manatee Food Security Network includes organizational leaders from various sectors, including food banks and pantries, human services, healthcare, and local government. They meet bi-monthly around the following strategies:
- Resource System Innovation
- Convene the Collective Voice
- Data Sharing and Coordination
- Build Capacity for Seamless System