November 18, 2011

Hi-Five Kids Pack Program Update

Author: Maria Diestro

With the holidays rapidly approaching, most of us are preparing for a time of celebration and gift-giving. Yet for many children attending Central Florida Public Schools, this season will prove to be a particularly difficult one.

As many as 222,000* Central Florida students are receiving free or reduced cost lunches through the federally subsidized School Lunch Program because their families are struggling.

As a way of addressing this need Second Harvest is providing 18 Orange County elementary schools with Hi-Five Kids Packs – Kid friendly, shelf-stable packets of food product meant for weekend consumption. Each pack provides enough caloric content for a day to youngsters 6 to 8 years old.

In Orange County, which has 125 elementary schools, almost one fourth have free-lunch eligibility rates exceeding 95%. Osceola County reports a disturbing figure indicating that 70% of their students are now on the  eligible list for free lunch, up from 63% four years ago. * Read More …

November 14, 2011

Food For All

Author: Maria Diestro

Our mission depends heavily on the passion of volunteers, the generosity of corporate and private contributors and food donors, and the hard work of our partner agencies.

Approximately 55,000 people every week receive assistance through Second Harvest. We can only meet this need with support from our retail, manufacturing and distribution partners.

An example of one such partner is Publix. Click below to look back at the different ways Publix supports Second Harvest during the year.

Read More …

November 9, 2011

A Magical Future for Hunger Relief in Central Florida

Author: Greg Higgerson

It was a morning of great celebration at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.  In a very special ceremony outside our loading dock, one of our longest-serving and best corporate partners came by for a look back at our history together, and also brought the Food Bank one step closer to realizing its future vision for the community – by announcing a $500,000 gift and pledging to give us 20,000 pounds of fresh produce during the next year.

For twenty years, Walt Disney World has reached out to help Central Floridians in need through support of the Food Bank’s mission.  The company is one of very few that literally  helps the Food Bank in every manner possible—through incredible food donations, through financial support, and through volunteerism. Disney’s deep and enduring support of hunger relief has directly touched hundreds of thousands of lives in our community over the past two decades. 

Children, seniors, working poor families, homeless, and others have received the vital food assistance they needed because of this generosity.  To help keep that nutritious help going, this morning we learned of a new commitment from Disney to provide an additional 20,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables over and above the normal prepared and perishable food donations received daily through their Disney Harvest program. These products are the very food items that low income families cannot afford on their own, and represent added health and vitality for all who will receive them. Read More …

November 9, 2011

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

Author: Lauren Moskowitz

The generosity of our donors and this community never ceases to amaze.  On October 30^th, all 12 Central Florida Walmart Neighborhood Market stores kicked off a weeklong food drive benefitting Second Harvest Food Bank.  For the duration of the week, customers and staff donated critical need items like canned veggies, soup, rice and baby food, and filled storefront donation bins to the brim.  The weights are all in – more than 10,000 lbs were collected for our neighbors in need.

The food drive culminated with an event at the 600 S Alafaya Trail location on Saturday, November 5^th.  MIX 105.1 and 105.9 SUNNY FM were on hand all day with rockin’ tunes and giveaways, including children’s bike helmets compliments of Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, and Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus provided free opening night circus tickets to those who donated 10 or more items.  Beyond that, 12 lucky families received brand new children’s bicycles, each donated by one of the Walmart Neighborhood Market stores! Read More …

November 1, 2011

Help unwrap hope this holiday season …

Author: Sasha Hausman

No matter what you celebrate, I think we can all agree that the holiday season is a special time. It’s a time when we let the people closest to us know how much they mean to us. Whether it is a family member exchanging a gift, or getting a chocolate shaped snowman from a co-worker … it is hard not to appreciate this special season.

Unfortunately not all of us think of the holidays as the most wonderful time of the year. 1 in 5 of our neighbors here in Central Florida might not know where their next meal is coming from. But luckily there is an easy way to help that might save you a couple steps during your holiday shopping.

For a gift of only $5 (or more if you wish) per card, we will share your holiday greetings with friends, family, and colleagues, letting them know that you have made a donation to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida on their behalf. The card will be personalized with your name or company inside and then mailed out from our office for your convenience. Read More …