November 28, 2011

BJ’s Wholesale Clubs: With an extra serving of kindness, we can all make a difference

Author: Maria Diestro

I am thrilled to introduce our fabulous intern – Sam Greenberg.  Though new to our blog, Sam has been interning with our Grocery Alliance Program since September.  From day one, she has immersed herself in all things GA, and has contributed to a number of projects including new donor rollouts and a 6-county food drive!  Today, she blogs about one of our newest donors, BJ’s Wholesale Clubs, and their Holiday Food Drive … which starts today!

In the spirit of holiday giving, BJ’s Wholesale Clubs is launching a chain-wide food drive that will take place from November 28^th through December 12^th.

Each BJ’s location will have a donation collection bin located near the front of the Club.  Members can look for aisle talkers near critical need items such as pasta, canned sauce, canned fruits and vegetables, and protein-rich items such as tuna fish and peanut butter.

BJ’s is urging its members to break apart their multi-pack or family-sized grocery bundles and donate a few packages to the food drive.  You can also bring in your own non-perishable food donations to any BJ’s Club.  Not a member?  No problem.  Anyone can participate — simply stop by member services to receive a free 60 day trial membership.

If you can’t participate in the food drive, you can help out online. For every “like” or “share” on their facebook page, the BJ’s Charitable Foundation will donate $1 to Feeding America that goes towards assisting food bank transportation costs to make sure that there is no delay helping those in need!

All 7 Central Florida BJ’s Clubs also recently joined our Grocery Alliance Program through their Feedings Communities initiative. Each day, BJ’s Team Members gather unsold perishable food to be picked up 3 times a week by Second Harvest Food Bank trucks, and in turn distributed to our partner
agencies.

We would like to take a moment to say THANK YOU to BJ’s for recognizing the need for local hunger relief, and the importance of ensuring those in need get a well-balanced nutritious meal.  Don’t forget to stop by your local BJ’s Wholesale Club today through December 12^th to help those less fortunate enjoy the season.  With an extra serving of kindness, we can all make a difference!

Sam Greenberg
Second Harvest Intern

 

 

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 …

September 20, 2011

Winding down September and Giving Back

Author: Maria Diestro

Our intern Melissa Kear, wraps up Hunger Action Month in this latest blog post. 

October is just around the corner, and with it (we hope!) comes cooler weather! Using our 30 Ways in 30 Days calendar, you can count down the last days of September and support Hunger Action Month every day of the week.

If you haven’t had a chance to visit our main facility for one of our popular Food for Thought Tours, please plan to join us Wednesday, September 21, 2011  6 pm for a special Food Bank tour of Second Harvest Food Bank. RSVP is required at CFLHungerAction.org. Spend one very interesting  hour with us learning about hunger in Central Florida and what Second Harvest is doing to help. Read More …

April 15, 2011

Winn Dixie donates $2,214 and 714 food drive bags to Second Harvest

Author: Maria Diestro

This past February, Winn Dixie partnered with AARP and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida to support the “Drive to End Hunger”.  Learn more about Drive to End Hunger by reading: Hunger and the Daytona 500?

Two weeks prior to the Daytona 500, Winn Dixie gave their customers the opportunity to participate in an in-store food drive by purchasing 2 different size food drive bags. 52 Winn Dixie stores in Central Florida participated!

We recently got the total from this donation: 

• 714 food drives bags were purchased by Winn Dixie customers 

Winn Dixie also made an additional donation of $1,214 along with $1,000 worth of Winn Dixie Gift Cards. We are truly grateful for the partnership that we have with Winn Dixie. Thank you Winn Dixie for your commitment to fighting hunger in Central Florida!  

February 21, 2011

Hunger and the Daytona 500?

Author: Dave Krepcho

I am no longer a rookie after attending my first-ever Daytona 500. It is an incredible experience – the smell of rubber burning and BBQ pork sandwiches; somehow it all works. People from every walk of life are in the stands that stretch at least a half-mile long and hold 100,000 fans.

And imagine, Lap 3 was a “Lap of Silence” in remembrance of Dale Earnhardt’s crash 10 years ago … 100,000 people standing with three fingers held up with nothing but the roar of engines in the background — incredible dedication among these fans.

So where does hunger come into this picture? Who would’ve thought that Jeff Gordon would be driving a car that is covered with the statement: “Drive To End Hunger”? And that AARP would be the sponsor?! Yes, AARP is making a major commitment to hunger among older Americans.

Their three-year sponsorship will help spread awareness of the hunger problem and also raise money to help programs serving seniors. Feeding America members will support a series of races across the country. On top of it all, Second Harvest will receive a $10,000 donation and all the food left over after the race, that ‘s what I call a special checkered flag!

Dave Krepcho
President/CEO

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Working with Feeding America and Winn-Dixie, Drive to End Hunger presented a $10,000 check to Second Harvest to help feed hungry seniors in Central Florida. Additional donations were collected at the “Winn-Dixie Winner’s Circle,” a food drive at Central Florida Winn-Dixie stores. Below are photos from the event: