The Canned Good Coalition has donated near 80,480 pounds of fruits, vegetables and beans in steel cans to those that were affected by the devastation of Hurricane Ian.

Canned Good Coalition members reached out to Publix Super Markets and various food banks, such as All Faiths Food Bank and Harry Chapin Food Bank of South Florida, to provide wholesome, shelf-stable foods at a time when many Floridians were without food and electricity.

Canned food companies that donated products include Bush Beans, McCall Farms, Pacific Coast Producers, Red Gold and Seneca Foods.

“Providing canned foods to those in need is just one way that this coalition can do good,” said Sherrie Rosenblatt, executive director, Canned Good Coalition.

“It helps that the steel food can is durable and easily and endlessly recyclable, keeping it out of landfills and creating less food waste.”

“At Publix, it is ingrained in our culture to take care of our communities,” said Dwaine Stevens, Publix director of community relations.

“When Hurricane Ian devastated our communities, we appreciated that canned food companies worked with us to donate product to people in our community that were in most need of help.”

One food bank that received some of the 51,000 canned foods was All Faiths Food Bank in Sarasota, FL.

All Faiths Food Bank is the only food bank and largest hunger relief organisation in Sarasota and DeSoto counties, communities affected by the hurricane.

Sandra Frank, the food bank’s executive director said: “We sincerely appreciate these kind donations. We are very grateful to the Canned Good Coalition for helping us – every can counts.”