Meals of Hope just received a significant boost in their mission to fight hunger in Southwest Florida. B. Thomas Golisano has awarded them a $3 million grant that will strengthen their efforts to provide nutritious meals to families in need.
Southwest Florida has seen increasing numbers of people struggling to put food on the table. Meals of Hope has been at the forefront of addressing this challenge, and this new funding will allow them to reach even more community members facing food insecurity.
A Significant Investment to Help Combat Hunger
Tom Golisano, — entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civic leader — is the founder of Paychex, Inc., the nation’s largest human resource company for small to medium-sized businesses. His philanthropic contributions to education, hospitals, disability services, animal welfare, and numerous other organizations exceed $860 million. This grant is part of a larger $85 million distribution to 41 Southwest Florida nonprofits. These grants are special because they come without restrictions, allowing organizations like Meals of Hope to use the funding where it’s most needed.
During the announcement, Golisano said, “I hope this unexpected funding helps them broaden their impact and strengthen their organizations so they can expand their services and those they serve.”
For Meals of Hope, this means they can provide more meals, grow their programs, and offer greater support to families facing food insecurity throughout Southwest Florida.
How Meals of Hope Plans to Use the Grant
More Mobile Pantries
Meals of Hope currently runs 15 mobile food pantries that provide thousands of families with weekly fresh groceries. With food costs rising and more people needing help, this grant will allow them to distribute more food, reach additional areas, and help ensure families in Southwest Florida have enough to eat.
Expanded Baby Pantries
Food insecurity particularly affects babies and young children. Meals of Hope recently grew its Baby Pantries program, which now helps over 300 babies and children every week by providing formula, baby food, diapers, and other essential supplies. The grant will allow them to help even more families with young children.
More Meal Packing Events
For over 15 years, Meals of Hope has organized volunteers to pack and distribute meals across the country. Working with corporate sponsors, community groups, and individual volunteers, they’ve packed more than 110 million meals. With this additional funding, they can organize more meal-packing events, involve more community members, and distribute more meals.
Stronger Partnerships
Meals of Hope works with local food banks, churches, and other nonprofits to keep food within the community. The flexibility of this grant will allow for more collaboration, strengthening the network of organizations fighting hunger in Southwest Florida.
The Value of Local Giving
Tom Golisano’s approach to philanthropy follows his belief that “The only wealth you get to keep is that which you give away.”
This grant represents more than just money—it’s help for thousands of families struggling with hunger, an opportunity to improve food relief efforts, and a reminder of how communities become stronger when people work together.
How You Can Help
While this grant will help Meals of Hope expand its work, addressing hunger requires ongoing support from individuals, businesses, and community groups. Here are ways you can contribute:
- Host a Meal Packing Event – Gather people from your workplace, school, or community to pack nutritious meals for local families.
- Sponsor a Program – Businesses and organizations can support specific initiatives like mobile pantries or Baby Pantries.
- Donate – Financial contributions help Meals of Hope purchase and distribute essential food and supplies.
- Volunteer – Help at a meal-packing event or assist at a mobile pantry.
- Spread the Word – Share Meals of Hope’s mission with others to inspire more people to help.
Every contribution, no matter the size, helps provide food and support to those who need it.
Join the Effort to Address Hunger
This grant is important in expanding Meals of Hope’s work, but there’s still much to do. Hunger affects millions of people; together, we can make a meaningful difference.
Would you like to be part of addressing hunger in your community? Visit Meals of Hope to learn more about getting involved, donating, or hosting a meal-packing event.