Care Should Never Be Out of Reach
Not because someone had a medical emergency. Not because inflation made groceries impossible. Not because rent climbed faster than wages. Not because a family is one setback away from losing stability. But for too many of our neighbors, that’s the reality.
Care Forward is our commitment to meet this moment — and our invitation to the community to be part of what comes next.
When care moves forward, lives improve.
260,000
individuals in Pinellas County who identify as food insecure
20,000
uninsured adults who need healthcare services
15,000
neighbors who need stability support
Care Forward is Powered by Proven Strategy
This movement is not built on wishful thinking, but on sustained progress, intentional planning, and outcomes. Through expanded programs, partnerships, and resilience (even during back-to-back hurricanes in 2024), SPFC has deepened our impact and responded to community and patient needs.
Nutritious Food
For many neighbors, the first step back to stability is knowing they can count on nutritious food. When COVID hit, we expanded the FRESH Pantry overnight from 170 households a day to more than 500. What began as emergency relief grew into something lasting. Today, we distribute millions of pounds of food and reach thousands of families. Care Forward means we meet hunger today while building the capacity to serve every food-insecure neighbor in Pinellas County — because hunger can’t wait.
How We’re Deepening Impact:
- FRESH Sprouts, which grew from a pilot program of 3 preschools to 12 schools, provides fresh food and nutrition education.
- FRESH Pace, working in partnership with neighborhood and corner stores to sell healthier food at a more affordable cost to neighbors living in food deserts.
- Expanded partnerships supporting school-based food pantries.
- The Lifestyle Rx program provides access to nutritious food to support patient treatment plans.
Goal by 2030:
Reach all 260,000 food insecure individuals in Pinellas County.
Healthcare
Food insecurity and health are deeply connected. Without regular care, small problems become big ones and families fall further behind. We started building personalized plans for every patient, opened an in-house pharmacy for no-cost prescriptions, and expanded specialty services. The result? The number of services each patient receives more than tripled. Care Forward means we don’t just reach people — we truly support them so they can heal and stay healthy.
How We’re Deepening Impact:
- Specialty healthcare growth, including urology, gynecology, colonoscopies, orthopedic surgeries and increased provider partnerships.
- Internal referral processes that help patients at risk of or diagnosed with diabetes receive individualized support to improve outcomes.
- In-house dispensary to increase ease-of-access to no-cost prescriptions.
- Expanding diagnostics and services through provider and hospital partners.
Goal by 2030:
Reach 20,000 uninsured adults who need healthcare services.
Community Navigation
A neighbor’s health depends on more than food or doctor visits. People need what SPFC calls their “personal infrastructure.” It’s the foundation that allows someone to keep a job, access appointments, care for their family, and stay housed. SPFC’s community and patient navigation services have grown, helping connect people to essential supports that build stability. Care Forward walks alongside each person so one challenge doesn’t become a crisis.
How We’re Deepening Impact:
- Assistance with bus passes, driver’s licenses, Florida IDs, birth certificates, rent and housing, utility bills, and child care resources.
- Help applying for SNAP benefits and access to healthcare financial assistance programs.
- Referral to external specialists.
- Care coordination for medical imaging, outpatient, and hospital procedures.
Goal by 2030:
Connect 15,000 neighbors to the support they need to thrive.
Health Center Impact
Michael's Story
Two years ago, SPFC launched the FRESH Pace Healthy Neighborhood Stores Program to bring affordable, healthy food to corner stores in food deserts. Last summer, we added monthly Health Checks right at those stores, offering blood pressure checks, blood sugar screenings, and information about SPFC services. Watch as we share the story of how this had a potentially life-saving impact on a community member.
Ready to help more neighbors like Michael?
$100 Million Fundraising Goal Over 5 Years
SPFC is a careful steward of every dollar entrusted to us. Donations are used strategically and transparently to maximize impact, strengthening core services, expanding access to care, and meeting urgent community needs. By leveraging partnerships, measuring outcomes, and prioritizing efficiency, SPFC ensures that contributions go further, creating lasting change and meaningful results for the neighbors we serve.
Program Expansion – $80M
- Food Security ($60M): Expand food access through new partnerships, acquisitions, and distribution networks to reach all 260,000 residents in need with fresh, nutritious and culturally relevant food.
- Healthcare Access ($20M): Extend care to 20,000 uninsured adults and their families through new clinics, health education, and community collaborations.
Capital Expansion – $10M
Renovate and open a flagship South St. Petersburg facility, enhance food distribution systems, and launch new community spaces.
Future Security – $10M
Build SPFC’s endowment to sustain food and healthcare services through future economic challenges.
Why We Choose to Move Care Forward
Partner with SPFC to Create Lasting Impact
Care Forward is about meeting people where they are and walking with them toward better health, greater security, and renewed possibility. It’s how SPFC turns food access into nourishment, healthcare into healing, and support into long-term improvement. When care moves forward, lives improve — and communities are transformed. Your generosity makes that improvement possible.
As a nonprofit, we rely on donations to provide the support Pinellas County deserves. Will you join us in supporting our neighbors and helping move Care Forward?
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