Bug Bite Thing Giving Back: $10,000 Donation Provides Hunger Relief to Local Community

At Bug Bite Thing, it was important for us to start the new year with not only positive intentions, but also positive actions. Since our beginnings, our founder and Chief Mosquito Magnet (no, that’s not an official title, but maybe it should be!) set out to provide children, families and other adventurers relief from the effects of insect bites and stings. While that mission – and our suction tool – remains strong, we aim to broaden that relief even further.

To live out this goal, we recently donated $10,000 to our local Treasure Coast Food Bank, which is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. The outfit helps individuals and families gain long-term food security, better health outcomes and self-sufficiency. Thanks to the organization’s extraordinary influence on the area, our donation is enough to feed more than 80,000 families!

Bug Bite Thing President, Ellen McAlister, and Founder and CEO Kelley Higney, present a check of $10,000 to Treasure Coast Food Bank Chief Resource Officer, Krista Garofalo. 

While the Treasure Coast Food Bank’s work has always made a significant impact, it has become critically necessary in the past year. The organization reported a 200% increase in the demand for food assistance since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Nearly 40% of people seeking food assistance are doing so for the first time.

“Since the pandemic began, we’ve seen so many people needing help for the first time in their lives,” said Judith Cruz, president and CEO of Treasure Coast Food Bank. “We’re extremely grateful to Bug Bite Thing Founder and CEO Kelley Higney and President Ellen McAlister for thinking of our Treasure Coast families, and this donation will go a long way to provide meals for those in need.”

Swarming to Give Back

While funding these initiatives is imperative to the organization’s life-saving work, our Bug Bite Thing employees desired to connect on an even deeper level. Our team spent a day volunteering at the Treasure Coast Food Bank, preparing nutritious food boxes to further support the organization’s efforts. We enjoyed putting our energy into action so much – and worked so quickly! – that we had the chance to participate in building another crucial need, hygiene kits. In total, we were able to pack more than 1,000 food and hygiene boxes that will directly benefit members of our community.

“Our company’s headquarters is in Port St. Lucie. As many people are struggling within our community right now due to the pandemic, it is more important than ever that companies give back. We are grateful for the incredible work of Treasure Coast Food Bank and proud to support their ongoing effort to provide individuals and families access to food when they need it the most,” said Bug Bite Thing Founder and CEO Kelley Higney.

Get Involved in Your Community

Want to make your own impression on the community? You can give back, too! Even if funding the programs is not in the cards right now, consider participating by working with a local organization like the Treasure Coast Food Bank as a team-building activity.

Since the Treasure Coast Food Bank is in partnership with 400 other charitable organizations in our nearby counties, we were lucky to have such a meaningful effort to contribute to right here in our backyard. If you’re not local but want to get involved, Feeding America is a nationwide network of 200 food banks. We urge you to visit feedingamerica.org to find a food bank near you, or search your local resources to find out where you are needed most.