Sarasota and Manatee Thanksgiving Food Drive 2026 and Where to Donate

Sarasota and Manatee Thanksgiving Food Drive 2026 and Where to Donate November 7, 2026 | Suncoast Post Staff | Charities | No Comments on Sarasota and Manatee Thanksgiving Food Drive 2026 and Where to Donate A Thanksgiving food drive across Sarasota and Manatee counties aims to collect 108,000 pounds of nonperishable food from Nov. 9 through Nov. 20. The 54-ton goal marks what would have been Nathan Benderson’s 108th birthday. The Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program will distribute the donations through local food pantries and community partners ahead of Thanksgiving. Where to Drop Off Food November 9 Through 19 The park’s event calendar lists four collection sites ahead of the finale. Check the location’s hours before heading out. Palmetto Police Department — 1115 10th St. W., Palmetto. Bradenton Fire Department Station 1 — 1010 Ninth Ave. W., Bradenton. DeSoto Boys & Girls Club — 5236 30th St. W., Bradenton. Coldwell Banker Realty — 8334 Market St., Lakewood Ranch. Drive Through Drop Off on Friday November 20 Bring shelf-stable food to Nathan Benderson Park from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20. The park is at 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle in Sarasota. Organizers plan to sort the donations there and send them to pantries in both counties. If you’re shopping for the drive, consider unopened canned beans, tuna or chicken, vegetables, pasta or oatmeal. Choose items that can be stored without refrigeration. Schools, businesses, congregations and neighborhood groups can request collection bins and registration details from Tracy Wiggins at [email protected]. A Separate Collection for Thanksgiving Turkeys The organizers’ release also lists a stop in the The JOY FM T-Shirts for Turkeys drive Thursday, Nov. 12, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Bayside Church, 15800 State Road 64 E. in Bradenton. The release says donors can bring a frozen turkey or make a contribution toward one, with a suggested minimum of $15 for the latter. Check with the station before traveling for the latest schedule. The Mayors’ Feed the Hungry Program dates to 1987. For neighbors who need food assistance, its donation page also lists the local pantries it supports. Contact a pantry directly for distribution hours and eligibility. Share on Facebook Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Comment Name * Email * Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Post Comment