Star of the Sea Foundation

Star of the Sea Foundation (SOS) distributes Food, clothing and household items and Services to the indigent and underprivileged residents of the Florida Keys. Our emphasis is on food. Our services include providing access and information about applying for food stamps, temporary cash assistance, Medicaid and other services as needed and appropriate.In 2022, 160 volunteers gave almost 4,000 hours to help us achieve our mission. Almost 2 million pounds of food was donated to or purchased by SOS and redistributed to residents of Monroe County who were in need. During 2022, over 11,000 residents were served by our food pantries in Key West and Key Largo. Produce makes up 50% of the food distributed. In addition our community kitchen prepared meals for kids, adults an seniors. By pairing health-focused initiatives, like cooking education opportunities with the availability of healthy foods, our food pantries improve food security for thousands of Monroe County residents.With over half of Monroe County, Florida residents struggling with the cost of living and lack of affordable housing, SOS Foundation steps in to ensure that all families or individuals have the food support they need so they can concentrate on other aspects of life that will help them reach their goal of lifting out of poverty. We provide healthy food access along with nutrition education that benefits the health of our entire community. 40% of the food in the United States never reaches the dinner table and enters the waste stream to decompose. Utilizing food that would otherwise be wasted is the most efficient way to address the epidemic of hunger facing our community. Since 2006, the Star of the Sea Foundation has been recovering perfectly edible food from South Florida Farmers as well as local businesses and groceries, and redirecting it to our neighbors' dinner tables. Any food that can't be recovered for human consumption is given to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office Animal Farm for animal feed.