KEY LARGO, Fla. — Did you know 43% of Monroe County residents live below the federal poverty line?

That’s according to Star of the Sea Foundation, which serves underserved populations in the Florida Keys.

S.O.S has been part of the Local 10 Day of Giving since the very beginning.

Inside St. Justin the Martyr Church in Key Largo is where the Star of the Sea Foundation sets up its weekly, client-choice pantry.

“Our mission is to service as many people as possible in the Monroe County area,” said Andy Bertucci, supervisor for S.O.S.

Between the Key Largo pantry and another in the lower keys, S.O.S. has saved working-poor families in Monroe County $2.8 million in meals.

Additionally, so far this year, they have distributed nearly 369,000 pounds of food.

“We service about 180 families every week, and in Key West they service about 500 families a week,” said Bertucci.

For Gabriela Hardison and her son, Matthew, the nonprofit helps supplement their grocery list.

“I was in car accident and I lost a job, and that time between the new job, it really helps, and I appreciate all the help,” Hardison said.

With broad cuts to federal food supplies and county funding, S.O.S. relies heavily on surplus food donations, but there are weeks when food options are very limited.

“We need more dairy, we need more protein type foods,” said Bertucci.

It’s why Star of the Sea is putting out an SOS to Local 10 viewers to remember your neighbors to the south on Friday, Local 10’s Day of Giving.

“Come and give us as much food as possible,” said Bertucci. “We can sure use it. It helps everybody and it will help a lot of families for Thanksgiving.”

S.O.S will be at the Publix in Key Largo on Friday, collecting non-perishable food donations.

Star of the Sea Foundation has helped feed Florida Keys families in need for decades

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Mayte Padron