MANATEE COUNTY — The Food Bank of Manatee is experiencing a 40-50% increase in demand for services as Giving Tuesday approaches, with the organization's vice president calling it the highest need she has seen in seven years.

Amy Tauri, Vice President of Development with Meals on Wheels Plus of Manatee, said the food bank services over 95 food pantries and partner agencies throughout Manatee County and is hearing reports of increased need across all locations.

"People are needing access to food. They pay their bills, and when it comes, there's more month left than there is money to pay for that month," Tauri said during an ABC 7 interview Monday.

Tauri attributed the increased demand to several factors, including ongoing impacts from last year's hurricanes, high cost of living, and rising insurance rates across Florida.

"Everyone was impacted by those storms," she said. "It's a really expensive place to live for a lot of families, so wages aren't keeping up with what it costs to actually live here."

The poverty level in Palmetto reaches 51%, meaning over half the residents are at or below the poverty level, according to Tauri.

The organization's recent Thanksgiving turkey distribution served 750 families but still had to turn people away, with lines described as the longest in seven years.

Tauri shared the story of Mara and her daughter Adeline, who attended the distribution after losing everything in the hurricanes. The family, expecting their fifth child, needed assistance to provide a Thanksgiving meal.

"They're working hard to try to make ends meet, to feed their family, but sometimes things just fall a little short in the month and they just needed help," Tauri said.

Steve and Sarah Baird have provided a $100,000 matching gift for Giving Tuesday donations, doubling the impact of every contribution up to that amount.

"You may think, I can only give $5 or I can only give $10. Well, that $5 becomes $10 and that $10 becomes $20," Tauri said. "There is no gift too small."

The Food Bank of Manatee is the only food bank based in Manatee County.

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