Florida Blue Foundation Funds Food Rescue Group
A four-year, $400,000 grant supports Clay County nonprofit Waste Not Want Not as part of $3.1 million in statewide food initiative funding.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Philanthropy
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The Florida Blue Foundation awarded Waste Not Want Not, a Clay County nonprofit, a four-year grant of $400,000. The foundation also gave a total of $3.1 million to eight food initiatives across Florida.
Why it matters
The grant supports the collection of surplus food for distribution to area organizations that serve people in need across Florida. It reflects the foundation's broader investment in food access programs throughout the state.
The Florida Blue Foundation's $400,000 grant is a four-year award, part of $3.1 million distributed to eight food initiatives statewide. The stub does not specify the grant's annual disbursement schedule or measurable outcome targets.
The players
Florida Blue Foundation
The philanthropic affiliate of Jacksonville-based Florida Blue, the state's largest health insurer, which funds community health and food security programs.
Waste Not Want Not
A Clay County nonprofit that rescues surplus food and distributes it to local organizations serving people in need.
The details
Waste Not Want Not collects surplus food and distributes it to area organizations that serve the needy. Susan Towler, vice president of the Florida Blue Foundation, and Kathleen Spears, president and executive director of Waste Not Want Not, are central to the announcement, which states the grant will help ensure the right food reaches the right people at the right time, in the right way.
Timeline
The grant covers a four-year period beginning with the November 5, 2026 announcement.
Market Landscape
Corporate health insurers have increasingly directed philanthropic dollars toward food security as a community health priority. This grant places Florida Blue's foundation among a growing set of funders channeling money into surplus food rescue networks.
Residents who donate food or volunteer may see local pantries and partner organizations receive more surplus supply as the grant funds operations. The stub does not indicate any change to consumer prices or availability.
The takeaway
Support for surplus food rescue depends on steady, multi-year funding, and this four-year grant gives Waste Not Want Not a predictable base to plan distribution. Residents who want to help can look for local rescue and pantry partners in their own communities.
Further reading
Explore more philanthropy coverage on Florida giving and nonprofit funding.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Florida Times-Union.
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