July 21, 2010

Almost a third of U.S. children are overweight, but many are also hungry?

Author: Maria Ali

Almost a third of U.S. children are overweight, but many are also hungry? Does it make sense?

Click here to read more: Eating Nutritiously A Struggle When Money Is Scarce

This article highlights some of the complexities of hunger in America. It’s not just about getting enough food, but getting enough of the right kinds of food, as well as understanding the importance of making the right choices.

It can be very challenging to eat healthy on a tight budget, but have we considered what price we are paying to not eat healthy? What price are our children paying? What affect has it had on our communities?

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stated  there is a similarity between low-income families trying to stretch scarce food dollars with high-calorie processed foods, “and youngsters who are just flat out not getting fed because their parents don’t have the resources to feed them.”

Elaine Livas, who runs Project SHARE, a food pantry in Pa., expressed that there’s something else to consider. As the nation becomes more health conscious, she’s noticing less healthy food coming to her pantry. She’s getting more sugar-coated cereals, for example, than the high-fiber ones she used to receive. “We can’t really complain that the poor are heavier, when what we’re donating is our kind of castaways,” she says.

What are your thoughts?

Maria Ali, RD, LD/N
Nutrition Manager

June 17, 2010

Summer of Hunger Article

Author: Brady Koch

We’re entering our second week of the Summer Food Service Program and are starting to see children lining up at our lunch sites. It’s certainly a good thing that these kids in need are able to locate and travel to a feeding site, but it’s also a raw reminder of the state of childhood hunger in our community. Unfortunately it’s a problem that all communities across the United States are facing.

AOL News published an article that provides a comprehensive look at our children that are out of school and out of food. The nationwide challenges detailed in the story are mirrored here in Central Florida

Record Number of Kids Facing Summer Of Hunger

 WASHINGTON (June 16) — With the school year ending in communities across America, more than 16 million children face a summer of hunger.

While classes were in session, they relied on free or discount cafeteria meals subsidized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But they will not be reached by the patchwork summer food programs financed by the USDA, which feed fewer than one in five of the total number of kids poor enough to qualify.

The children caught in the gap will likely spend the next few months cadging leftovers from neighbors, chowing down on cheap junk, lining up with their families at food banks that are already overmatched or simply learning to live with a constant headache, growling stomach and chronic fatigue. When school rolls around again in the fall, they will be less healthy and less ready to learn than their peers.

The problem is not new, of course, but indicators for a crisis are lining up. Federal studies show that “food insecurity” for children peaks during summer, said USDA spokeswoman Jean Daniel, adding, “That’s a cutting-edge research term for hunger.” Demand for food stamps is already up. Demand at food banks is already way up. Donations, however, are down.

Read complete article.

February 24, 2010

The Haunting Calls Keep Coming

Author: Dave Krepcho

At Second Harvest, we’ve seen a large increase in the number of calls from individuals requiring food. In addition to the 21 million pounds of food we distribute during a year, we receive an average of 20 calls per day from people seeking assistance.

Not only is it sad that these folks are hungry and cannot afford food, but it is distressing once you find out who they are. Many are grandmothers watching their grand kids or great grand kids, some are single mothers working full time and still cannot make ends meet and then there are the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans that are foreclosing on their homes and cannot afford to eat.

These calls haunt the folks at Second Harvest who answer the phones. Fortunately, there is somewhat of a hopeful side to this blog, we are able to refer these folks to one of our many partner programs so they can be helped.

If you ever wondered if your involvement in the cause mattered, wonder no more. Thank you for your support.

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

January 20, 2010

State-side Relief for Haiti

Author: Dave Krepcho

Although we are not chartered as an organization to do international relief, we found ourselves very busy these past few days in helping with the Haitian relief effort – domestically.

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:

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

January 20, 2010

Benefits Connection Attracts National Attention

Author: Brady Koch

Our Benefits Connection food stamp outreach program is making a positive difference for those in our community every day. The average monthly benefit from one of our food stamp applications is $223. Receiving food stamp assistance is the boost many families need while bouncing back from unemployment and other life-changing events.

Through the success of our program, we’ve found ourselves in the national spotlight. Last week the newly appointed Deputy Administrator for Food and Nutrition Service visited Second Harvest with other VIP officials from the USDA in addition to the food stamp team from local Department of Children and Families. They were thrilled with the stats we shared tracking the growth and impact of our food stamp program.

We love being able to share the success of our programs with all types of audiences.

Why don’t you come down to a Food for Thought and learn about all of the ways that we’re fighting hunger in Central Florida? We’ll give you the VIP tour.

 

 

Left to Right: Janet Foggs, Don Arnett, Sharron Washington, Lisa Pino, Dave Krepcho, Sandrene Stevens, Peggy Fouts, Nitza Colon, Yours Truly, Tom Sallette

 

 

 

 

Janet Foggs is a Government Operations Consultant, Don Arnett is the Regional Director for USDA Southeast, Sharron Washington is Circuit 9 ACCESS Operations Manager, Lisa Pino is USDA Deputy Administrator of Food and Nutrition Service, Sandrene Stevens is DCF Program Administrator for Orange County, Peggy Fouts is the Director for the Food and Nutrition Assistance Program for USDA Southeast Region and Tom Salette is Program Specialist for DCF.

Brady Koch
Director of Agency Relations & Programs