Providing meals for families and kids is an act of pure kindness. Thank you for being part of a community that cares enough to make sure kids have access to the food resources they need to experience a worry-free, hunger-free summer. Read on to see how your support made it possible to fight summer hunger in remarkable ways.
57 Summer Sites
Second Harvest’s Summer Food Service Program hit the road on June 1 to deliver fresh, nutritious meals to kids. The program served children at 57 summer camps, daycare centers, parks, libraries and other programs across five Central Florida counties all summer long. A few highlights:
- 87,727 meals were served for free to kids ages 18 and under
- The Fly Beyond initiative provided 11,054 fresh produce bags filled with a variety of fruits and vegetables to 2,000 families
Over 300,000 Meals a Day
Second Harvest and its network of more than 625 feeding partners were out in force this summer to distribute enough food for 300,000 meals a day to kids and families at emergency food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters. In addition, 106 mobile food drops. distributed fresh produce, meats, dairy and pantry staples to neighbors in food deserts and rural communities.
These feats were made possible in part thanks to food bank volunteers. More than 6,700 volunteers donated over 21,000 hours this summer to host food drives, sort food donations, prepare meals at Mercy Kitchen, pack take-home produce bags for families, rescue food at food shows and much, much more.
14 Culinary Training Students Graduated
While most students were out of school, Second Harvest’s Culinary Training Program was in full swing. Members of Class 50 spent the summer honing the professional and life skills needed to secure new, sustainable careers. In June, 14 students graduated. By investing in workforce education and training, you are transforming lives.
All of this was accomplished because of your kindness and generosity. Thanks to you and your financial donations, Virtual Food Drives, and volunteerism, local students and families across Central Florida are entering the new school year filled with hope.
