Suzi is a nutrition educator in Brevard County. As part of her job, she visits public schools to teach kids about how important it is to eat the right foods every day. One evening, as she was filling up her car with gasoline, Suzi was approached by a woman she had never met before.

The woman pointed to a youngster in a nearby vehicle, and said “My daughter just pointed you out as the woman who came to teach her class at school today,
is that right?” Suzi replied that it was. “My daughter also said that to be  healthy, she needed to fill up half her plate with fruits and vegetables, is that right too?” said the woman.

Suzi was pleased that the girl had gotten the message she was trying to get through, and replied ‘Oh, yes!” with pride.

Suddenly she noticed the mother tearing up, and unable to speak. After a minute, the woman was able to explain that she works two jobs, and still struggles to provide enough food for her family. She said that she knows fruits and vegetables are best for ‘her babies,’ but that the cost of adding them into the family’s meager diet was usually just too much.

The mother related how she struggled to simply meet the family’s calorie need, let alone the nutritional requirements of a healthy diet. Suzi relates that it was all she could do to keep from crying herself. She explained to the mom that ‘trying’ is really the best that anyone can do. She mentioned that frozen fruits and veggies can sometimes be cheaper than fresh, and just as nutritious. The mom was also reminded to stress to her kids the importance of eating the produce that was served to them at school through the free breakfast and lunch programs.

After a few more tips on making soup from frozen veggies, Suzi was on her way back home. As she drove, she thought how brave the mother had been to approach a stranger on behalf of helping her children eat better. She hoped that her messages had been encouraging, and felt sad that so many little people are
living without the kinds of food they need to grow and thrive.

At Second Harvest Food Bank, we’re moving more pounds of fresh produce than at any other time in our history. Still, we’ve reached a point where our ability to provide more of these highly nutritious products to the community has reached its end. We’re simply not able to take any more fruits and vegetables in our current facility’s cooler and freezer capacity. Sadly, more than two million pounds of available fresh produce were turned away last year due to lack of
adequate space.

For this reason, Second Harvest Food Bank is pressing on with it’s Building Solutions to Hunger capital campaign. A new, 100,000 square foot facility is planned, that will ensure no more turned away products for decades to come. For more information, please visit www.showmercynow.org

As the government continues to wrestle with proposals to control the growing national deficit, difficult decisions will have to be made in the coming months on the federal budget.   A number of proposals have been put forward that cut many of the safety net programs that serve millions of low-income Americans.  If these cuts are included in the final budget, they will come at a time when unemployment and the need for food assistance remain stubbornly high. As a result, more and more people will be forced to seek help from food assistance programs, many of whom are already struggling to meet this record need.

In order to bring a voice to our neighbors whom are struggling to put food on the table we have begun a Paper Plate campaign. We are asking recipients of food assistance programs to let their voices be heard by filling paper plates with statements attesting to how important this food is to their family.  This campaign will offer our clients an easy, open-ended, and powerful way to advocate for themselves. For many this may be the first time they have done anything like this.

Jen Gibson
 Events Specialist

A volunteer named Annette spends her free time working at an East Orange County summer camp that hosts 40 young campers each day.   Recently, she felt a tinge of joy when one of her campers ran up and told her “Gina’s in the bathroom, and she just lost a tooth!” 

“These kids are growing up so fast,” thought Annette with a smile.   She hurried off to the girl’s restroom to find 10-year old Gina standing in front of the mirror.  When she saw tears instead of excitement on Gina’s face, Annette’s joy quickly turned to sadness. As she stared at the object in Gina’s outstretched hand, she realized that it was her permanent front tooth. Gina shared that it had been loose for some time, and that it had finally fallen out. She showed Annette other permanent teeth that were loose as well, and the two shared a long hug and cry together.

Gina and her family live in an area of our community where more than 30% of the population have incomes that fall at or below the Federal definition of poverty. Many struggle to get by on incomes that are a mere fraction of that already meager level. Every day, these families must make difficult financial choices, and the food money is typically the only part of their budgets about which they can make decisions.

With limited funds, the quality of food choices they can obtain naturally suffers. The highest calorie return for the lowest cost becomes their paramount consideration, well ahead of nutrition. Over time, the effects of malnutrition for both children and adults can have dire consequences.   For Gina and other children, those consequences can become lifelong challenges.  To add insult to injury, services like treated water, sewers, and other modern infrastructure that supports good health do not exist in the relatively rural area.  

Prior to the establishment of Second Harvest Food Bank’s summer feeding site at Gina’s camp, the camp organizers had done their very best to scrounge up snacks for their campers from local neighbors and the few convenience and grocery stores that serve the area. Now, however, the campers are able to get a hot, wholesome, well-balanced meal at least once a day, and even take home a food bag occasionally to help their families.    This helps round out the nutrition that the kids are receiving until they return to school in the fall, where free and reduced lunch and breakfast programs help provide the nutrition they often miss at home.  

It’s difficult to imagine such suffering in America, let alone right here in our own community. But such stories are not unique, and not isolated.   Enough food for more than 30 million meals was distributed by Second Harvest Food Bank in Central Florida last year alone. Much more is needed, however, for seniors, for families, and especially for our children.   The future of our community literally depends on it.     

1 in 5 Central Floridians are struggling with the reality of hunger and food insecurity. Do you have a story to tell?

Greg Higgerson
VP, Development

I recently accompanied Santos Maldonado, our Childhood Hunger Programs Manager to take pictures of some of our Summer Feeding sites. Second Harvest currently sponsors 20 sites. Working with a major local food vendor, we are able to provide meals and snacks to children in low-income areas during the critical time when they lack access to school cafeterias.

As compared to June 2010, meals distributed doubled, from 12,642 to 25,753, making this the largest monthly increase since the program began. I will make sure to post an update for July when those numbers are available. I also learned that one of our most satisfying development this year is the expansion into Osceola County, specifically along the 192 corridor where many children of homeless families live in the motels.

Seeing first-hand the food going directly to our clients, especially when they are children, is such a humbling experience. I visited five centers and met some pretty amazing individuals who run the sites.

How the Summer Program Works

The purpose of the Summer Food Service Program is to provide nutritious meals to low-income children when school is out. Second Harvest has been a sponsor since 2008. Our sites provide one meal and one snack per day. Hot meals are served twice weekly and seconds are available to those who are still hungry. 

“All meals served through the Summer Food Service Program must meet USDA nutritional guidelines and include the following: 1 serving of milk, 2 servings of fruits and/or vegetables, 1 serving of grains, 1 serving of protein.” – SummerFoodFlorida.org

All sites are required to hang banners and posters to inform the community of the days, time, and hours of operation. Florida’s Summer Feeding Program web site will locate a summer site near your zip code. 

So What Kinds of Places Offer Free Summer Food?
You will find summer feeding sites at schools, churches, parks & recreation centers, low-income housing complexes, community parks and for the first time at for-profit locations that are willing provide community space to non-profit volunteers that oversee the program.

Second Harvest Summer Feeding Sites
Below are photos from Central Florida Dream Center, New Image Youth Center, Restore Orlando, Ebon Temple Church and Reach Back Foundation. Click here to view all our sites on a map.

Closing Thoughts
Before I started working at the food bank I used to associate summer with the beach and vacations. Now summer has an additional meaning for me. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to take photos and to share with you the great work that our staff does at Second Harvest.

If you enjoyed looking through these photos, check out this blog post (video) from last year: Katharine Mcphee Visits Second Harvest to Launch Summer Food Program

Let me know if you have any questions about our Summer Feeding Program and I will gladly get the answers for you. Have you ever had any experiences with Florida’s Summer Feeding Program?

Maria Diestro
Online Services and Communications Manager

Special Message – Your Support is Requested
The need for food is at an all-time high in our communities. Children, the working poor, people who cannot find jobs, senior citizens and more are in need. Critical federally funded nutrition programs are at risk of losing millions of dollars of support. Current budget proposals in Washington recommend huge cuts.

What does this mean for Central Florida?
If the current proposals were passed by the Senate in the next couple of months, the equivalent of over one million meals could be lost for Central Florida.

-  There would be a significant decline in the amount of TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) food.
-  There would be millions less in SNAP (Food Stamps) for our area.
-  WIC (Women Infant & Children) would be cut back significantly impacting women, infants and children.

Action Required: Call State Senators Nelson and Rubio as well as your U.S. Representative’s offices. The phone numbers are below. When you call, you will most likely not be connected to the Senator or Representative, you will be speaking to a legislative aid. They track every call so it’s important to call. When the number of calls starts to add up, they pay attention. You are the voice of the people who are most vulnerable when you’re speaking to these elected officials and their staff.

Simple Message to deliver
-  We want you to reduce the deficit – but not on the backs of hungry and poor people.
-  If possible, tell a personal story of someone you know that is need. (a neighbor, friend, kids, seniors, unemployed)
-  Protect the funding around the programs below. The House passed bill H.R.2112 on June 16 to cut millions from them. Ask them to turn this around with the Senate.
              -  SNAP, formerly Food Stamps / WIC (Women, Infants & Children) 
              -  TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program)

Collaboration
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is working in collaboration with Feeding America, of which we are a Member; Bread For The World and FRAC (Food Research and Action Council). We all share the common interest of these federally funded programs and the benefits for people in need.
                          
Contact Information:

Senator Nelson
Washington: 202-224-5274
Orlando: 407-872-7161

Senator Rubio
Washington: 202-224-3041
Orlando: 407-254-2573

Representative Sandy Adams
Washington: 202-225-2706
Oviedo: 407-977-7601

Representative Corrine Brown
Washington: 202-225-0123
Orlando: 407-290-9031

Representative John Mica
Washington: 202-225-4035
Maitland: 407-657-8080

Representative Daniel Webster
Washington: 202-225-2176
Winter Garden: 407-654-5705

Representative Richard Nugent
Washington: 202-225-1002
Brooksville: 352-799-8354

If you prefer to write a letter to some of the officials that works well. Any communication on this topic can make a difference. Please pass this message along if possible. Thank you!

If you need further information, please do not hesitate to call:
Dave Krepcho, President/CEO, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
Office: 407-295-1066, ext. 38
Mobile: 407-718-6936

Related Articles:

- Punishing the Poor
- House Passes Harmful FY2012 Agriculture Appropriations Bill
- House Debates Funding Cuts For Food Safety, Nutrition Programs

Your support of Second Harvest Food Bank has made an impact in lives of thousands of Central Florida seniors, children, and families this past year.

Here’s a look at our accomplishments:

- Second Harvest distributed 24,764,248 pounds of food to more than 500 partner feeding programs in our 6 county-wide service area.

- Our Kids Cafe program served, prepared or catered meals to 164,155 children at 13 kids cafe’s in 3 counties.

- During the summer, we served 43,188 meals for school age children at 17 sites in Orange County through our Summer Feeding program. Through a grant from ConAgra we were also able to provide the kids with 15,773 take-home, shelf-stable food packs for the weekends.

- Our Hi-Five Kids packs program distributed 31,245 shelf-stable food packs to needy children at 18 elementary schools. These packs are designed to help bridge the nutritional gap that exists during weekends, when children lack access to school cafeterias.

- An amazing 1,227,100 pounds of non-perishable grocery products were collected in fiscal 2009/2010 through our Community Food Drives.

- Our Benefits Connection program secured over $14 million in food stamp benefits for Central Floridians. In addition to food stamp benefits, our specialists also signed clients up for Medicaid and Cash Assistance, and provided referrals to a network of collaborating agencies.

- Second Harvest Food Bank set up an online advocacy center and urged congressional leaders to fully fund and pass Child Nutrition Reauthorization. The Child Nutrition Reauthorization bill was passed last week in Congress!

Whether you volunteered, gave a special gift, contacted your elected officials, or simply were part of our online community, YOU helped thousands of Central Floridians this year. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Dave Krepcho
President & CEO

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

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.