Food & Art for Thought

The evening included an amazing collection of Food Art plus samples of hors d’oeuvres prepared by the sous chefs from Cuisiniers, The Ravenous Pig, Crave, K Restaurant and Antonio’s. Everything was delicious!

The event raised more than $3,600 for Second Harvest’s High-Five Kids Pack Program. We are so grateful to have individuals like Chef Jamie McFadden and George Arredondo of the Peas Foundation. They put together this amazing and successful event.

Sponsors included: HG Art & Design, Winter Park Magazine, Cuisiniers’ Catered Cuisine and Events, The Ravenous Pig, K Restaurant & Wine Bar, Antonio’s, and Crave.

The PEAS Foundation seeks to Produce Eating Alternatives Simply for food insecure households by providing grants for fresh fruits and vegetables to local homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and other charitable organizations, helping to improve the quality of life with a fresh approach. The foundation was created in 2009 by co-founders Chef Jamie McFadden and George Arredondo

Our Hi-Five Kids Pack Program provides nutritious meals to children who do not have access to school cafeterias during the weekend. Second Harvest partners with 15 public elementary schools that have a significant percentage of student participation in free and reduced lunch programs. These schools each receive around 3000 food packs per year.

Pictures fromFood & Art for Thought:

until next time,  

Maria Diestro
Online Services and Communications Manager

Let me tell you, it was some hard work! But I’m so happy we were able to collect 6,850 pounds of fresh vegetables to bring back to our community and provide to those in need. We were joined by an AmeriCorps group and a few other volunteers, one being a mom and her two sons.

The USDA reports that 96 billion pounds of food is wasted in this country every year, while more than 35 million Americans don’t get enough to eat. Wow!!! There was much more cabbage that could have been picked, but we only had so many hands, not to mention so much strength left. Each pile of cabbage that we picked had to be carried by hand back through the field to the truck.

Cabbage is full of water, which contributes to its weight. It’s a great vegetable that supplies nutrients that help to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, including breast, lung, stomach, and colorectal cancer. It’s also a great source of vitamin K, vitamin C and fiber. ½ cup cabbage only has about 16 Calories and provides almost 3 grams of fiber. It’s good stuff!

So thank you to SoSA, AmeriCorps, and the family that volunteered. Those 2 little boys earned 100 pennies…they’re mom rewarded them 1 penny for every head of cabbage they collected. If you’re interested in getting involved with SoSA visit their website:  www.endhunger.org .

Every extra helping hand provides healthier food to those who are hungry.

pictures:

 

Maria Ali
Nutrition Manager

Through the fundraiser, customers could make a $1, $3, or $5 contribution while paying for their groceries. The coupon was then added to their total grocery bill.

Dave Krepcho, president and CEO of Second Harvest, said “These donations provide nine times that much in terms of food value to the community. This will go a long way toward feeding families throughout our service area. A truly meaningful donation.”

On Thursday, March 18, Publix presented Second Harvest with a check for $55,572.

Last week, Publix also presented Second Harvest’s Brevard branch with a check for $30,588.

Thank You Publix for letting us be a part of the Food for All campaign. And thank you Central Florida for being so giving this past holiday season.

Now in its 18th year, the Stamp Out Hunger! effort is the nation’s largest single-day food drive. Last year, Letter Carriers collected 376,514 pounds of food in Central Florida. Nationally, 73.4 million pounds of food was collected.

What Can You Do To Help?
1. Place bags filled with nonperishable food items next to your mailbox.*
2. Your letter carrier will pick them up and deliver them to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

* Donate items like canned meats and fish, canned soup, juice, pasta, vegetables, cereal and rice. Please do not include items that have expired or those in glass containers.

Sign up here to receive a reminder email!

Below are photos and videos from last year:

Maria Diestro
Online Services and Communications Manager

It took about 500 hours of volunteer work to construct and shape the 44 tons of food into the Disney character structure. All 115,000 cans that it took to make the structure will make its way back to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. The food will be sorted and shared with other Feeding America food banks in our network!

We were so happy and honored to be at such a wonderful event, Kermit and Ty Pennington (host of ABC’s Extreme Makeover) were even there! A big thanks to Disney and all the volunteers who helped create, build, and pack up the giant structure!!

Pictures:

Video from DisneyParks Blog

 
Sasha Hausman
Events Specialist

Guests heard from our President and CEO, Dave Krepcho. He explained the study, talked about the numbers, gave insight on what Second Harvest plans to do about it, and gave examples on what our community can do to help.

Then a special speaker came up to the podium, her name was Annie Busby. She received food from one of our partner agencies, Jewish Family Services. She explained how she was self employed and was doing pretty well, until the economy took a turn. Annie was left with her children, and grandchildren to support. She explained that the food wasn’t just something to eat … it was a sign that things were looking up and that she could get through this tough time.

Annie read a poem that she wrote in dedication and honor to Second Harvest Food Bank

Oh shine on me with greatness, thy one who prepares thy meal, show me thy love; by the bread that you yield.
Give to me the importance of nutrient to my body, so that I can achieve.
Give me supplements to help with my yield, that I will grow strong to face the dawning morn.
Walk with me through the pain of hunger, by filling my stomach so that I know not hunger.
For I was hungry and you fed me, I was alone and you gave me hope. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink.
Thanks for the out stretched hand, thanks for the morsels of food.
From me to you; thank you, that I am stronger because of you.
For I too, am a child of the king, a pilgrim in a strange land.

Thank you to everyone that took the time to learn more about Hunger in Central Florida. If you were not able to make it to the reception, please check out the hunger study results online.

Have any ideas on how to help? Give us a call! (407) 295-1066

Photos from the reception:

 

Sasha Hausman
Events Specialist

CVS/Caremark

Without the support of corporate partners like CVS/Caremark our job would be much harder. Volunteers help us get food into the hands of needy families quicker and more efficiently. In today’s society there is a renewed spirit in helping fellow Americans. Feeding America is glad that CVS/Caremark show their spirit of giving through involvement with our organization and member Food Banks.  

Photo Slideshow:

Sasha Hausman
Events Specialist

We have already provided five truckloads of food and beverages working alongside Department of Children & Families at Sanford International Airport. The first food these Haitian U.S. citizens receive when on U.S. soil is directly from Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. We do not know what to anticipate when the refugee population starts to arrive in the U.S. and its impact on Central Florida.

The folks were so grateful for the food and also to be out of harm’s way. When I had the chance to provide food to the flight crew of the C-17 military transport in the middle of Saturday night, it was certainly one of those “mission moments” I’ll never forget.

To see our military being used for humanitarian reasons was very heartwarming. And to see that the average age of the nine member flight crew was about 27 years old was really a surprise!

That crew could not have been more polite and respectful despite flying for hours and under pressure to get back to Port Au Prince quickly. It made me proud to be an American.

Below are some pictures:

Waiting the arrival of the first Military transport filled with hundreds of people from Port Au Prince.A diversity of ages arrive ranging from orpaned babies to senior citizens.

Expressions of hope, exhaustion or just dazed by the experience.

Bonsoir madame. People were so grateful for the airlift.

Haitians being greeted on the tarmac.

Second Harvest Food Bank volunteers John and Rob. It was a 20 - hour day of disaster relief.

Collaboration with our great partners, Dept. of Children & Families, made this relief effort successful.

The first food they enjoyed on U.S. soil proudly provided by Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida

Military transport plane at Sanford Intl. Airport. Arriving throughout the week from Port Au Prince.

Dave after feeding the crew of the C-17 Military transport plane. Proud to be an American. (average age of the crew: 27 years old, excluding Dave!)

Second Harvest, A Feeding America Member: On site providing relief within hours.

Dave Krepcho
President/CEO
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida

Yesterday, a group of around 50 kids learned how to make and enjoy homemade pies! The American Pie Council’s Board was also there to teach the basic cooking skills and prep work, such as rolling dough.

Pie making is geared toward elementary-school age children. The American Pie Council will be making pies again in April for the Great American Pie Festival.  For more information, visit the American Pie Council.

Watch a video of the kids at work:

Photo Slideshow of Pie Making:

Maria Diestro
Online Services and Communications Manager

Scouting for Food

The Boy Scouts would bring truck loads of bags they had gathered from the houses in different neighborhoods to our collection sites. Then the sites boxed up the donations for distribution the following Monday.

Photos taken from one of our collection sites:

Photos taken by: Occasional Photo

After the food was collected and boxed up it was sent to our warehouse on Brengle Avenue in Orlando so that our Partner Agencies that have Emergency Food Pantries in the Orange and Seminole Counties could receive the food and distribute to their clients. The following Monday always looks like a caravan all lined up at our docks ready to go fight hunger in their neighborhood.

On Monday, November 16th the food was ready for pick by the agencies.  On a typical day we service about 25 agencies. This past Monday, our warehouse went into overdrive to serve over 164 agencies. We had as many as five agencies every 15 minutes.  Each agency vehicle’s shock absorbers got a workout as vans, trucks, and a couple compact cars were loaded up.

We were also very lucky that we had received a very large shipment of Sweet Potatoes so quite a few of the partner agencies received about a pallet or so to distribute along with the food drive. 

The Thanksgiving holiday is approaching and with food received from the Scouting for Food our Partner agencies will be able to distribute and help more families this season.

Erin Gray
Agency Relations Manager
egray@foodbankcentralflorida.org