August 24, 2010

New USDA Pilot to Feed more Kids During the Summer

Author: Brady Koch

This summer, we’ve provided Central Florida kids with over 42,000 meals at a variety of community programs through the Summer Food Service Program. Additionally we reach thousands of children through our Benefits Connection food stamp outreach program.

The USDA is considering a pilot program that will merge both programs into a benefit hybrid that is designed to provide children with food during the Summer when they don’t have access to the Free and Reduced Meal Program.

News Article: 16 Million Hungry Kids, 1 New Idea for Feeding Them

 What do you think of the idea? It could potentially reach many more children, but what about the accountability of the EBT cards? Hopefully Florida will participate in the pilot and we can provide even more meals to kids next summer.

Brady Koch
Director of Agency Relations & Programs

July 19, 2010

Katharine McPhee Visits Second Harvest to Launch Summer Food Program

Author: Maria Diestro

ConAgra Foods Foundation has donated $5 million to Feeding America over the next five years to fund a new program at 23 food banks called Hunger-Free Summer.
 
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is one of the lucky recipients. This summer we’re distributing a total of 15,000 kids packs to our Summer feeding sites in addition to the lunches the kids are already receiving because of this grant. The goal of this program is to provide at least 25 percent more meals for children struggling with hunger during the summer.
 
The kick-off event for this program was in Orlando at the New Image Youth Center, one of our summer food sites. New Image Youth Center feeds around 25 kids weekly. 
 
Feeding America’s entertainment council member Katharine McPhee helped launch this amazing program. She spent the morning doing national and local media interviews. When it was time for lunch, she personally gave each kids at New Image Your Center a summer meal. Almost every child in the room was grinning from ear to ear. She even took the time to walk around the room and chat with them. 
 
View a montage of photos from that day.

 
To top everything off, Katharine McPhee spent the afternoon writing a song with the children. We captured video of this process. She makes it look so easy to do.
 

We are so grateful to have the support from ConAgra Foods Foundation, Feeding America and Katharine McPhee. 
 
Maria Diestro
Online Services and Communications Manager
 
p.s. We love the song and can’t seem to get it out of our heads!

July 16, 2010

A Better Way to Identify Hungry Children

Author: Brady Koch

A teacher looking at a classroom full of children on the first day of school might have a difficult time determining who would be in need of food assistance. The free and reduced school breakfast and lunch program, our Hi-Five weekend program, and our Kids Cafe afterschool program all help get food to these children.

There are common warning signs to look for like lethargy, inability to concentrate, and aggression, but it can still be challenging to identify the need.

A new study published this month in the journal Pediatrics, by University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers examined whether the time-consuming, 18-question Household Food Security Survey provided by the federal government could be shortened and still be effective in identifying hungry children.

They found that there were two questions you could ask that would be as effective as the entire 18 question survey.

Simple Two-Question Survey Can Better Identify Hungry Children

This is a great start to brainstorming exercises we’ve started internally to find ways to enhance our childhood programs.

What do you think of the findings of this study?

June 1, 2010

Food & Art for Thought Raises over $3,600

Author: Maria Diestro

Food & Art for Thought was held on Thursday, May 20 at Gallery at Interlachen.

The evening included an amazing collection of Food Art plus samples of hors d’oeuvres prepared by the sous chefs from Cuisiniers, The Ravenous Pig, Crave, K Restaurant and Antonio’s. Everything was delicious!

The event raised more than $3,600 for Second Harvest’s High-Five Kids Pack Program. We are so grateful to have individuals like Chef Jamie McFadden and George Arredondo of the Peas Foundation. They put together this amazing and successful event.

Sponsors included: HG Art & Design, Winter Park Magazine, Cuisiniers’ Catered Cuisine and Events, The Ravenous Pig, K Restaurant & Wine Bar, Antonio’s, and Crave.

The PEAS Foundation seeks to Produce Eating Alternatives Simply for food insecure households by providing grants for fresh fruits and vegetables to local homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and other charitable organizations, helping to improve the quality of life with a fresh approach. The foundation was created in 2009 by co-founders Chef Jamie McFadden and George Arredondo

Our Hi-Five Kids Pack Program provides nutritious meals to children who do not have access to school cafeterias during the weekend. Second Harvest partners with 15 public elementary schools that have a significant percentage of student participation in free and reduced lunch programs. These schools each receive around 3000 food packs per year.

Pictures fromFood & Art for Thought:

until next time,  

Maria Diestro
Online Services and Communications Manager

May 4, 2010

Pietopia

Author: Sasha Hausman

I had the great pleasure of attending the Great American Pie Festival April 24th and 25th in Celebration. Which basically meant good bye Pound for Pound Challenge, hello delicious pie!

Apple, pecan, key lime, cherry, French silk, you name it … I tasted it! So you might be asking, “So what does this have to do with Second Harvest?” Well the folks at the Pie Council and Village Inn care so much about Second Harvest Food Bank’s Kids Café program, that they dedicate some fun activities to raise funds for our afterschool program.

There were buckets spread out throughout the festival for pie lovers to drop donations into. There was a great booth set up where kids can give a dollar to participate in a “Pie Walk” similar to a cake walk, where they could win a free Village Inn Pie!

Finally, the Pièce de résistance…the 4 ft in diameter pie! Have you ever seen anything more beautiful in your life???

It was a chocolate cookie crust with a chocolate ganache and cream cheese filling…with fantastic local grown strawberries, raspberries, and wild blueberries in a glaze with fresh whipped cream on top!

Each piece of this pie was sold for a donation to Second Harvest. It was a hit! All of these great fundraisers brought in over $500!

In food bank math, we are able to provide up to $4,500 in buying power to feed our neighbors in need. We are so happy and thankful to have such a great partnership with the Pie Council and Village Inn!

Check out this great video to see the other yummy things that went on during the weekend!

Are you interested in coming out to the Pie Festival next year? Keep checking our events page every so often so you don’t miss out on the fun!

In the mean time, take a look at our other events coming up…we’d love to see you there!

Until next time!

Sasha Hausman
Events Specialist