School is out this week for both Walton and Okaloosa counties, which means Summertime!! While most kids are excited to have the time off from school, there are many kids that have anxiety about being hungry over the school break. 

The FFT Summer Program serves both Okaloosa and Walton Counties, providing 66K meals to 600 students over three months.  The students involved in the summer program are able to pick up a month's worth of food, three times at our pick-up locations located within both counties.

By continuing to keep kids fed throughout the summer, it is empowering these students to stay nourished and not worry about where their next meal will come from while they are out of school.  We are looking forward to be able to provide food to our students throughout the summer in hopes they will be able to enjoy their break as much as possible. 

If you haven't already, will you consider to sponsor a family over the summer? There are three levels that you can donate today for our Summer Program: 

• $35 - Feeds a student for a week
• $175 - Feeds a student for a month
• $375 - Feeds a student for the whole summer

Believe it or not, summer is quickly approaching! While many kids are looking forward to spending time at home, being with friends and enjoying the summer weather, there are also many kids that are uncertain for how they will be fed during the week without their school providing meals. 

For the last eight summers, Food For Thought Outreach has provided food to students in need while they are on Summer Break.  Students that are on free and reduced meal programs during the school year, miss on average 110 meals over the summer, which is why Food For Thought does not stop providing meals to kids over Summer Break. 

The FFT Summer Program serves both Okaloosa and Walton Counties, providing 66K meals to 600 students over three months.  The students involved in the summer program are able to pick up a month's worth of food, three times at our pick-up locations located within both counties.

By continuing to keep kids fed throughout the summer, it is empowering these students to stay nourished and not worry about where their next meal will come from while they are out of school.  We are looking forward to be able to provide food to our students throughout the summer in hopes they will be able to enjoy their break as much as possible. 

Will you consider to sponsor a family over the summer? There are three ways that you can donate today for our Summer Program: 

• $35 - Feeds a student for a week
• $175 - Feeds a student for a month
• $375 - Feeds a student for the whole summer

As we are prepping for the Summer Meal Program, Food For Thought will be hosting three separate food drives in Walton and Okaloosa county.  At each location, the Food For Thought Van will be present, where you can bring a pre-packaged food item to donate for the summer meal program.  There are 600 families that are part of the FFT Summer Meal program, creating a need for 6,600 food items to be distributed to these families.

Here are the dates and locations for each of the "Cram the Van" Food Drives so you can help:

At the Pizza-by-the-Sea, Watercolor Crossings Location, if you bring 5 food items to donate, they will give you 50% off of a pizza purchased (same day).

At the Destin Winn-Dixie and at Grand Boulevard, bring in 10 items to Cram the Van, and you will be entered into a drawing.

Suggested pantry items:

During each of these food drives, a Food For Thought Staff member will be there to answer any questions, as well as share current volunteer opportunities.  

Look for one of the Food for Thought Vans at each of these locations to drop food off.  Thank you for your support to keep kids from being hungry over the summer!

 More Event Info HERE

We are so thankful for our seasonal sponsors who have helped bridge the hunger gap while school is out of session.  This past school year, Apex Disaster Specialists and Bay Baits were our seasonal sponsors who enabled 600 families to be be fed over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.  Ensuring that our kids are fed over school breaks is crucial, as on average kids on free or reduced meal programs miss ten meals over Thanksgiving break and 20 meals over Christmas break.

Our work continues this summer. Would you consider to become a seasonal sponsor to help support children in need in your community while they are out of school and removed from the free and or reduced meals they depend on?  600 families will receive a month's worth of food three times over the summer months with your support of $10k.

If you are interested in becoming a seasonal sponsor and have more questions, please email our team today: Support@fftfl.org

Learn More Information Here to become a Seasonal Sponsor: 

https://fftfl.org/pages/corporate-sponsorship