Bishop-Parker Foundation Grant to Help One More Child Expand Food Assistance in Manatee County

A $50,000 grant from the Bishop-Parker Foundation will help the One More Child expand food distribution and family support services through its Azinger Family Compassion Center in Palmetto.

The funding will support efforts to combat food insecurity and provide essential resources to vulnerable children and families throughout Manatee County. According to One More Child Foundation CEO Jerry T. Hagg, the additional funding and expanded capacity will allow the organization to increase annual meal distribution and directly benefit between 8,000 and 10,000 Manatee County residents each year.

Located in Palmetto, the Azinger Family Compassion Center serves as a donation and distribution hub for food, clothing, diapers, hygiene products, household supplies, and other necessities. The center assists foster children, hungry children, trafficking survivors, single mothers, and families facing economic hardship. It also works with local churches, nonprofits, businesses, and community groups to distribute resources across the region.

The 12,000-square-foot facility opened in 2021 on the Guardian Angels of Southwest Florida campus and was designed to serve vulnerable families throughout Manatee and Sarasota counties. The center operates as a regional resource hub, supporting more than 100 nonprofit and faith-based partners with food and household goods.

According to One More Child, the Azinger Family Compassion Center distributed more than 3 million meals and tangible goods valued at more than $11.8 million during the past year. The center has become a key part of the region’s emergency response network, helping provide food, diapers, and essential supplies following hurricanes and other disasters. In 2024, One More Child’s compassion centers distributed 5 million meals and more than 300,000 diapers to families impacted by back-to-back hurricanes.

Since opening, the center has steadily expanded its reach. During its first year alone, it distributed more than 1.7 million meals and nearly $4 million worth of household items while partnering with dozens of local organizations to meet growing community needs.

The new grant will help strengthen those efforts as demand for food assistance and family support services continues to grow across Manatee County.