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

Hunger Action Month starts today!  While we always need your involvement with Second Harvest Food Bank all year round, we do try to make it extra easy and fun in September!

Second Harvest, in conjunction with Feeding America and 205 other food banks nationwide are participating in the Third Annual Hunger Action Month. The goal of this month is to mobilize people to get involved with fighting hunger in America.

With the help of amazing local corporate partners, we have come up with a “30 Ways in 30 Days” Calendar. We’ll be counting down our 30 day calendar in weekly blog posts, so make sure to sign up to receive them in your mailbox (on the top left of this page).

You might say “Wait a minute!  You just told me there are 3 easy ways to get involved not 30! Below you can find three easy ways to start spreading the word about hunger right here in Central Florida.

 3 easy ways to get involved:

 1) Attend at least one event on our 30 Ways in 30 Days Calendar

For Hunger Month we have partnered with Cheese Cake Factory, Joe’s Crab Shack, Firestone Live!, Five Guys Burgers & Fries, NYPD Pizza, Mochi Downtown, Third Thursday Gallery Walk, Eden Bar, City of Orlando and Enzian Theater!  Check out our calendar to see how these amazing local businesses are getting involved with Hunger Action Month!

 2) Visit: http://www.CFLHungerAction.org

Our Hunger Action Month website is an online calendar of all the events happening in September. From there you can also sign the hunger pledge and learn about more ways to get involved with Second Harvest.  

 3) Share with your friends, family and co-workers

We hope you love social media as much as we do! Just look for the social media share buttons on all our pages and events. Just click the button and it will automatically share the information you are looking at with your facebook friends or twitter followers. Also, if you pick up a calendar or a postcard at an event, make sure to grab two. One for you and one for a friend.

Did you know that One in Five Central Floridians struggles with Hunger? This story made the front page of the Orlando Sentinel this morning: Nearly a third of Central Florida children may lack adequate nutrition. Join us in changing these statistics by getting involved.

In the great words of Henry Ford: “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”

 Anyone want to try to complete all 30 ways in September? How do you plan on getting involved this September? 

Maria Diestro
Online Services and Communications Manager

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

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

—————————————————————————————————————————

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:

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

I’m pleased to announce that our trio Childhood Hunger programs received a Victory Against Hunger Award from the Congressional Hunger Center, Victory Wholesale Group and Feeding America.

We reached a record number of children through our Kids Cafe, Hi-Five, and Summer Food programs in the last year and it is always a pleasure to be recognized for our work.

A breakdown of the 3 programs:

Kids Cafes
           At 13 After School sites in 3 counties, 164,155 prepared or catered meals were served in fiscal 2009/2010. This reflects a 12% increase over the previous year. An average of 910 children were served daily.

Summer Food Program
           During 51 operational days while children in needy areas lacked access to school lunch programs, 43,188 meals were served at 17 sites in Orange County this past summer, reflecting an increase of 9% over last year. Through a grant from ConAgra we were also able to provide the children with , 15,773 take-home, shelf-stable food packs for the weekends.

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

The Congressional Hunger Center (CHC) is a bipartisan anti-hunger leadership training organization located in Washington, DC. In addition to the fellowships they offer, the CHC facilitates the national discussion of finding ways to end hunger in America.

It’s nice to be able to take a break from our workday and be honored, but there’s always more work to get back to. We continue to see more and more children enrolled in our programs and there’s much more to do. Can you help?

Brady Koch
Director of Agency Relations & Programs
bkoch@foodbankcentralflorida.org