Conversation with Bob and Teresa Simmons

Although Longboat Key is an affluent community, many of its neighbors in Sarasota don’t know how they'll get their next meal. Queens Harbour residents Bob and Teresa Simmons have been combating this problem since January by coordinating a food pantry at Tuttle Elementary School. The pantry provides food to more than 100 families and children in need every other week.

Why did you become coordinators of the food pantry?

Bob: The Rotary Club last year contacted Tuttle and asked if they would be interested in having a pantry, and the principal, Tomas Dinverno, was interested. Sarasota has five or six Title I schools, and we worked last summer at Alta Vista Elementary School. When our president, Sydelle Pittas, said she wanted to start one, we decided to become coordinators.

Teresa: We were looking for a school to work with, and Tuttle had the need. The room we have and the setup is perfect. It’s also one of the closest schools to Longboat Key.

How does the program work?

Teresa: Families stand in this big, long line, and the parents go into the pantry a few at a time and shop. The kids stay outside to color. It doesn’t take long for the shelves to go bare.

Bob: It’s after school, and the kids are with their buddies coloring. It allows the parents to feel comfortable doing this because their kids are with their friends.

How many families have you served?

Teresa: Our first pantry in January, we had 23 clients. During our last school year pantry, we had 101 or 103 families. Each week, we beat ourselves and got more and more shoppers.

Bob: in the beginning, it was slow because there’s a stigma, but when people saw that their neighbors and friends did this, it grew. It’s open to the entire neighborhood in the summer, not just families of the students. We had 104 at our last one. That was our record.

How much food do you serve per week?

Bob: People donate the food to All Faiths Food Bank, and they give us a packing list every time that tells us what’s coming based on our estimates for how many families we expect. We then divide the food to how many of each item can go per family, and we tell each person how much food they can get.

Why is this important?

Bob: There are a lot of needy families in the area. Most of us chose Rotary in the first place to help others, and we don’t want these kids to go hungry. Many have said they would starve without us. I think everybody has a desire to be of service to their fellow man. On Longboat Key, everybody is so affluent, and I think we have a duty to help.

Teresa: When you realize the need, how can you not want to help? We have such hunger under our noses, and something must be done.

How aware are people on Longboat Key that childhood hunger and poverty exists just a short drive away?

Teresa: I can’t speak for everyone else, but for us, I don’t think I realized the need so close to home until last summer. It’s so prevalent, and it’s not just one school here. It’s everywhere. It’s not a commercial on TV for starving children in other countries. It’s right here. We have a huge homeless problem that can’t be resolved.

What other food programs do you provide at Tuttle?

Bob: They get food during the week for breakfast and lunch. When they go home on Friday, about 180 students get their backpacks filled up with food. It helps tide them over for a weekend when they otherwise might go hungry.

Are any families you serve homeless?

Teresa: We ask for a zip code and no other information. This could be where their cars are, but we just don’t know for sure. Sometimes, we have bigger meats like a turkey, and some people shy away from them because they either can’t store them or cook them. Many only have a microwave.

Bob: Some of these kids may live in a hotel room or subsidized housing.

At Alta Vista, they have courses for parents to learn to cook food in a microwave.

How can people become involved with the program?

Bob: Most of our volunteers are Rotary members or what we call friends of Rotary. For each pantry, we like to have at least 10 helpers. We’re hoping for more, and we’d love to see some new faces. We want it to grow. Many members say this food pantry is why people join the Rotary Club in the first place.

How does it feel to have helped so many children in need?

Teresa: You can’t drive down Tamiami or Fruitville without passing by homes with starving families. You’re a block away and realize these kids are hungry. They kids aren’t embarrassed to get food from us. They’re so proud and feel like they’re really helping their mom and dad by being able to bring their food home.

Bob: It feels great. It’s really rewarding. People come back with a smile two weeks later. It’s a feel-good moment. You realize you’re satisfying a need, and there’s a big need. It’s a great feeling.