“Rent eats first.” Those three words, shared matter-of-factly by a neighbor as she sought food assistance at a local distribution, have stayed in my mind since I first heard them. They describe a dilemma – and silent crisis – many families are struggling with right now in Central Florida and beyond.
Hunger is real. It is urgent. And many people have no choice but to face it alone. That’s part of the message I recently brought to Washington, D.C., after being invited to participate in a Fed Listens panel. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve asked for an update on food insecurity. While I’m sure they hoped to hear things had improved in the past two years, I was there to tell them the opposite.
While other metrics show Florida is getting “back to normal” from a business standpoint, statistics on hunger are grim. Second Harvest and its network of more than 750 community feeding partners are distributing approximately 300,000 meals every day to help feed families – and sadly, it still falls short of meeting the need.
Hunger impacts people of all ages and backgrounds, in all neighborhoods and communities. At Second Harvest, we see the real faces of hunger every day: Homeowners struggling with insurance and mortgage payments. Moms and dads striving to provide a better future for their kids. Caregivers supporting their parents in old age.
A staggering one in five children, many of whom rely on free and reduced-price school breakfasts and lunches, face hunger. With summer just around the corner, those missed meals will stretch a family’s budget to its breaking point.
At Second Harvest, we believe that change starts with honest, realistic conversations about the true face of hunger in our community. You can propel this crucial message forward by volunteering your time, making a monetary gift, or starting a virtual food drive. Every action you take has a positive impact on your neighbors facing hunger.
With gratitude,
Derrick Chubbs
President & CEO
