Many of the families we serve were already losing a battle with inflation before Hurricane Ian hit. Now, they are facing life-altering scenarios. Entire homes have been lost. Livelihoods have been turned upside down. Families who have never had to wonder where their next meal is coming from are currently needing our help to survive. The scale of devastation we are seeing across Southwest Florida is unprecedented and tragic. Now, more than ever, your food bank is serving as the safety net of the community, bridging the gap between people who are hungry and accessible, nutritious food. Prior to the storm, we distributed on average 700,000 pounds of food throughout our five-county footprint each week. We anticipate needing to distribute 2,000,000 pounds each week for an extended period of time in order to meet the need caused by Hurricane Ian. While we are ready to respond to this audacious challenge, we need your help now more than ever before.