June 27, 2017

How Lockheed Martin Inspired Their Peers to Fight Hunger This Summer

Author: Melissa Kear

Since 2014, as the school year comes towards an end, members of different local Lockheed Martin divisions have been coming together to fight hunger for kids and their families over the summer months by starting a virtual food drive.

As part of their corporate-wide, annual food drive event, Mission: Engage, Nourish, Unite (M.E.N.U.), Lockheed Martin employees all across the nation compete to fundraise for causes close to their hearts. For the past few years, the food bank has been very fortunate to be a local beneficiary to these efforts from two different Lockheed locations!

Each year, Lockheed’s Sandlake Mission and Fire Control (MFC) location splits into teams by department and competes against each other, while Lockheed’s Lake Underhill location rallies together to raise more money. Over the past few years of getting to know so many participants in both locations, it’s been fun and enlightening to watch the competition on a regional and local level, but one thing is for sure: together they have made a huge impact for local kids and their families.

Read More …

September 8, 2015

2015’s Summer Food Program for Children A Huge Success

Author: Santos Maldonado

Students across the region return to school last month. The hot days of summer may slowly be becoming a distant memory, but at Second Harvest one thing will surely be remembered; and that’s the dramatic growth of our Summer Food Program and its remarkable innovation in finding ways to get healthy meals to needy children in four counties.

Front and center is our Community Kitchen and its dedicated staff, without whom the increase in children served would have not been possible. Since June 8^th, thousands of nutritious meals were prepared daily, portioned, wrapped, and transported in refrigerated trucks to over 38 locations in the Central Florida area. Read More …

February 19, 2015

Preparing for Summer Food Services for Local Children

Author: Santos Maldonado

With the recent unseasonably cold temperatures in Central Florida, it’s hard to imagine that summer vacation for county students is a mere 66 school days away.

Second Harvest Food Bank will seamlessly transition from its Kids Cafe Afternoon Meal Program (AMP) to The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP).

This USDA funded program allows us to provide free, nutritious, prepared meals to children ages 18 and under while school cafeterias are closed. Read More …

June 10, 2014

Second Harvest’s Summer Food Program Expands into Brevard County

Author: Santos Maldonado

After six years of sponsoring summer feeding sites in Seminole, Orange and Osceola, Second Harvest Food Bank has expanded into neighboring Brevard County.

In the first week alone, almost 1,000 meals were served at four locations in Melbourne. The outcome of the pilot program, which runs from June 2nd through August 15th , will be used to evaluate the feasibility of further expansion. In addition to Second Harvest’s sites, Brevard County’s School District will serve food at 31 schools and community centers.

Second Harvest Food Bank has been a sponsor since 2007, providing meals to 73 different locations. By the end of summer, an estimated 90,000 Second Harvest meals will have found their way into the hands and tummies of children who lack access to school cafeterias in at-risk, low-income communities. Read More …

June 25, 2013

Second Harvest Food Bank and Midway Safe Harbor Kick Off Summer Feeding in Sanford

Author: Santos Maldonado

A couple of weeks ago,  youngsters at Midway Safe Harbor were treated to freshly prepared lunches and snacks by way of the Summer Food Service Program which makes meals available when children lack access to school cafeterias.

Last year, the center served 11,066 meals to over 110 children daily. We think that’s pretty incredible!

Second Harvest Food Bank is currently sponsoring 22 sites and expects to distribute 70,000 meals by August 16th. The program is offered in areas of high need where food insecurity is most prevalent. Food is coupled with activities so that at-risk youngsters can more easily cope with the hot summer months when school is out. Read More …

April 30, 2013

Second Harvest’s Summer Food Service Program enters its Sixth Year

Author: Santos Maldonado

As the end of the school year quickly approaches, Second Harvest Food Bank will seamlessly transition from its Kids Cafe afternoon program to The Summer Food Service Program.

This USDA subsidized program makes it possible for us to provide free, nutritious, prepared meals to children ages 18 and under while schools and their cafeterias are closed for the season. Community centers, summer camps, churches and other nonprofit organizations may participate. Additionally, for-profit, low income residential complexes may also host sites. Read More …