A staggering number of people around the United States struggle with hunger. In many cases, it is the person you would least expect. The impact this last year has had on our community has increased food insecurity in places you wouldn’t expect. With our area heavily relying on the tourism and restaurant industry, many were left without an income for a long time.
Do You Need Food Assistance in Venice?
There are a number of resources in Venice for food assistance, but the change in our community has to start with the people who live here. If you are looking for a food pantry in Venice, I’ve got you covered!
- Do you have a vegetable garden or a fruit tree?
- Did you purchase too many groceries before a trip that will go to waste?
- Are you a snowbird or visiting for a short time and want to give away the groceries you didn’t use before you head back home?
- Are you looking to barter and/or trade from your garden, eggs, honey or some other resource you make at home?
If you have extra food and want to share it with the community, you can join our group to find someone who needs it!
Food Banks in Venice
All Faith’s Food Bank is also a fantastic resource for those in need of food assistance with several locations throughout Sarasota county that include fresh produce, meats, dairy, breads and more.
In order to receive assistance, all you need to provide is a valid ID. You will fill out a form or two the first time you visit but after that, your information will remain on file. Many of these locations also have other items like clothing, hygiene items and household items as well. If financial assistance is needed for utilities, mortgage or rent assistance, bus passes, etc., some of these centers have the ability to either help you or refer you to someone who can.
You can also call 211 to reach United Way for a referral for these services.
To find your local 211, visit http://www.211.org/
Lasagna Love
Lasagna Love is an incredible volunteer based organization that believes “that kindness, however big or small, is the key to strengthening our communities.” No matter what the reason, be it physical, mental or emotional… sometimes people just need help with a hot meal. You can request a lasagna made by someone in your community that just wants to show you some Lasagna Love!
Snack bags for kids
Monday – Thursday : 10AM – 6PM Friday – Saturday: 10AM- 5PM
Elsie Quirk Public Library
Fruitville Public Library
Gulf Gate Public Library
Frances T. Bourne Jacaranda Public Library
North Sarasota Public Library
North Port Public Library
Shannon Staub Public Library
Venice Public Library
Monday – Thursday: 10AM – 8PM Friday-Saturday: 10AM – 5PM
Selby Public Library
Meals on Wheels of Sarasota
If you live in Sarasota County from the Gulf of Mexico and east to the Sarasota County line, University Parkway and south to Albee Farm Road, you are within the delivery range for Meals on Wheels.
Additional factors contributing to eligibility may include:
- Being homebound
- Unable to prepare meals or have a means to prepare meals
- Recent hospital stay or ongoing health problems
- Living Alone
Call 941-366-6693 or click the button below to sign up and have meals delivered.
Best Options for Groceries in Venice
Why I Choose Aldi:
Since the start of the stay at home order in 2020, I’ve relied on grocery pickup or delivery services. As a diabetic with multiple autoimmune disorders and a daughter with asthma, this was important to me. In addition, I’ve learned that by buying my groceries online, I am less likely to have impulse buys that lead to me being over budget. Using Instacart, I’ve found that with shopping at Aldi, there are certain items like milk, eggs, cheese and meat that are simply less expensive than at other stores! However, there are items that we are brand loyal to that Aldi does not carry and that’s when we use Walmart Grocery. Unlike shopping with Publix, Aldi has the same low prices you expect when ordering online!
Why I Choose Walmart Grocery:
As I mentioned, there are certain products that Aldi does not carry. In that case, we order from Walmart grocery. We also have a Walmart+ membership that not only saves us the delivery fee for groceries but also saves us money on gas, free shipping on items we buy online and if we were to shop in-store, there’s an app for you to scan your items as you’re shopping and check out! Click the image below to get $10 off your first purchase!
Earn Cash Back on Groceries With Ibotta
Another way to stretch your grocery budget is by using Ibotta! Ibotta syncs with your Instacart and your Walmart Grocery app to find cashback offers on things you were already going to buy! I’ve been on this app since Thanksgiving… and I’ve already made over $200 in cashback. It gets deposited right into my PayPal account. If you don’t have PayPal, you can redeem your cashback into your bank account or as gift cards to different places like Amazon, Walmart, Jersey Mike’s, Lowes, etc.
