Longboat church gives major boost to fight childhood hunger

Christ Church of Longboat Key supports area charities throughout the year with their daily operations. But Jerry Fox, head of the mission committee, said the church prioritizes projects that will be truly transformational with its larger grants. This year, the church is helping fight childhood hunger with a $40,000 grant to Elks Feeding Empty Little Tummies.

The organization provides weekend meals for students needing a boost, and this grant makes it possible for organizers to build a permanent facility for packing meals.

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"This is going to be huge," EFELT President Andrea Hitcho said when asked how having the new headquarters will affect their operations. "We have relied on donated space ever since we started."

The Elks launched the entirely volunteer-run program in 2011 upon seeing widespread food insecurity in area schools. Members from lodges in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch and Bradenton have helped keep the program running through the years, officially forming a 501(c)(3) in 2014. Hitcho noted they are separate from the Palmetto-based Feeding Empty Little Tummies.

Through collaborations with local food banks, grocery stores and support from donors, EFELT now serves more than a dozen schools. Hitcho said the demand ebbs and flows, but typically they provide meals for 500 to 600 kids.

Fox said the students they serve may be living in vehicles or hotel rooms with their families, and they may have limited access to food outside of school.

Hitcho said the nonprofit is grateful to businesses, schools and churches that have donated space for them to store and pack meals. However, members have needed to pack up and move operations every few years as those spaces were required for other projects.

After losing their most recent headquarters, they made plans to split operations out of the ballroom of Bradenton Elks Lodge No. 1511 and the Lakewood Ranch Branch of the YMCA.

"That still wasn't a long-term solution," Hitcho said.

What was that solution? They made plans to build a dedicated structure on the property at Lodge 1511.

"Christ Church has been a supporter of ours for years," she said, sharing her gratitude for their biannual donations for meals and support covering insurance costs.

The Elks presented their plan to church members in March, and on May 18, the mission committee officially gave them the grant.

"This is really going to change how they can operate," Fox said.

Now, rather than worrying about an uncertain future, EFELT will devote all its energy to reaching as many families as possible.

Hitcho said she looks forward to exploring opportunities to expand operations since they will have a permanent place to call home.

"I would be lying if I said I didn't tear up when Jerry told me we got the grant," she confessed. "I knew they were talking about making a donation on top of their regular contribution, but I had no idea it would be almost enough to cover the whole building. It's really exciting."

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Christ Church made the initial $40,000 donation, and Fox said an individual member of the congregation plans to volunteer to cover the remaining cost.

EFELT estimates the total project cost at about $54,000 and has all the construction plans laid out to get started after securing building permit approval from the county. If they can secure final approval in a timely manner, she hopes they can get the project done before the start of the new school year.

Hitcho said the group is especially grateful considering it could have taken years to raise funds for the new headquarters on top of maintaining its regular food program.

"To give some scale, $54,000 is more than our entire operating budget every year," she said. "It would have been slow going. This grant makes it possible for us to build the building as soon as possible. ... As far as everything that's in our control, we are ready to go."

Fox said the church reviewed several excellent project ideas, but committee members agreed the new facilities would be truly transformative for the community.

In the past, Christ Church has given these special grants to Harvest House to start a now-thriving mental health program, Selah Freedom to combat trafficking, and Beth-El Farmwork Ministry to provide migrant families with fresh produce and meat.

For more information about supporting EFELT's mission, visit efelt.org.