Talking Points

Out in the community? Not sure what to say? Use these helpful talking points below.

Manatee County has a serious food insecurity crisis:

• “Hungry” is everywhere–in houses you would never imagine. You could be doing well but then have a setback or a medical crisis: This issue can hit anywhere.

• Food insecurity is a crisis affecting 12% of our neighbors—working families, retirees, children, and business owners—across Manatee County.

•  It's not just about emergency needs; it’s about a lack of access to affordable, nutritious food.

• There are so many tradeoffs many face—between rent and groceries, or medical bills and meals, just as two examples.

• This issue deeply impacts working families, who can fall just outside the safety net but still struggle to feed their families.

There are solutions. Three we are focused on:

• Targeting the root causes of hunger—like access, cost, and transportation.

• Getting food to where it’s needed—with mobile food hubs, culturally appropriate selections, and neighborhood-driven models like discount groceries.

• Elevating community leadership—so solutions can be designed by those who live with food insecurity.

How the Manatee Food Security Network can make a difference:

• The Network is shifting from traditional delivery systems to new ways to get food to those who need it.

• By uniting 50+ organizations—from large nonprofits to grassroots community groups—we're collaborating to turn shared knowledge into long-term change.

• We’re ensuring that community voices drive the work from day one—so the Network grows with, not just for, the people it serves.