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Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida

Blogging at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida

Fighting hunger. Feeding hope.

Fighting hunger. Feeding hope.

Feeding Hope to Families this Holiday Season

December 20, 2021 by Erika Spence Leave a Comment

With more families in need of assistance due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) helped ease the burden of hunger for families this holiday season. The 12th annual holiday food distribution event provided 2,600 families with food at nine different schools across Orange County.

Volunteers spread out around bus loops and school parking lots at nine different locations across Orange County to help load food into the trunk of each car in line. Each family received a turkey and a fresh produce box filled with sweet potatoes, eggplant, onions and tomatoes. A bag of pantry essentials like rice, beans, canned meat, pasta and sauce helped provide items to build complete meals. In all, enough food was distributed to provide 98,770 meals in just a matter of hours.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, one in seven area residents, and one in five children, are at greater risk of experiencing hunger. As students head home for the two-week winter break, they leave behind the worries of homework and exams, but also their free, school-provided meals, making the need for food even more urgent during the holiday season.

“I worry and dread the holiday break because of how tight our budget is,” explained Paula, a single mother from Apopka. The food she received at the distribution relieved her stress and anxiety. Her whole outlook for the next two weeks changed with a trunk full of groceries to take home.

For nearly two hours, cars snaked through school parking lots. Grateful families waved through the windows, smiled, and said thank you to the volunteers. Recipients called their neighbors to encourage them to come by and get food. The teens helping load food into cars were proud of their ability to help their community and their families. Each student was able to take food home to their family too.

Thank you for spreading hope and cheer in the form of meals this holiday season.

1 in 5 Central Florida kids is experiencing hunger this holiday season.

Your $10 gift can provide 40 meals and hope.

Give hope today
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Filed Under: Hunger News, Programs You Support Tagged With: food distribution, holidays, OCPS, produce, school meals, volunteers

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You can help make sure kids have a hunger-free sum You can help make sure kids have a hunger-free summer with a Virtual Food Drive. This online tool makes it easy to become a Hunger Hero and raise funds to provide nutritious meals for kids and their families. Learn more and get started at Virtual Food Drive #linkinbio.
It's blueberry season! For a limited time, enjoy l It's blueberry season! For a limited time, enjoy locally sourced Blueberry Honey, fresh from Dundee, Florida. This earthy and bold fruity flavor is pairs wells with ice cream, waffles or a warm biscuit. Available in 2 oz. & 2 lbs. from @aspoonfullofhope. Each purchase helps support Second Harvest's Culinary Training Program and its students in their pursuit of a new, sustainable career in food service. #blueberries #localhoney #aspoonfullofhope
It's almost here! The first-ever Ultimate Garden P It's almost here! The first-ever Ultimate Garden Party is just days away! There are still plenty of ways to get involved and support this mission of fighting hunger. 🎟️ Purchase tickets⏳  Bid on fabulous items in the Silent Auction🎁 Enter to win the Full Bloom Chance DrawingDetails at link in bio. #ultimategardenparty #orlandoevents #charityevents
Three cheers for volunteers! This group from @topg Three cheers for volunteers! This group from @topgolf Orlando built a record-setting 1530 COVID-relief boxes filled with nonperishable food during a recent volunteer shift. 🙌 📦 These boxes will be distributed to neighbors facing hunger in Central Florida.Learn more about group volunteer activities at #linkinbio. #volunteer #orlandogivesback #feedhopenow
"When my family moved from Poland to America, we w "When my family moved from Poland to America, we were very fortunate to come across food pantries assisted by special places like Second Harvest Food Bank. Since then, we’ve been trying our very best to give back in any way. You never know what kind of hardship you’ll run into in the future, regardless of your social stature. But knowing Second Harvest  is around means the world to so many." - Susie, @1031thewolforlando Morning WolfpackHear more from @SusieOnAir this weekend as she hosts the Ultimate Garden Party red carpet and shares glimpses of the event with you.
@Aspoonfullofhope has baked up a Limited-Edition B @Aspoonfullofhope has baked up a Limited-Edition Blueberry Lemonade Shortbread Cookie! . Each bite pops with the tartness of #blueberry and lemonade, complementing the butter and crumbly texture that give the cookie a subtle complexity your taste buds will love! #cookiesforgood #instacookies #feedhopenow
"Do I pay rent, or do I put food on the table? Do "Do I pay rent, or do I put food on the table? Do I fill the car [to get to work], or do I feed my kids?" These are the questions facing families across Central Florida.Second Harvest is still distributing about 60% more food daily than pre-pandemic. Find help if you need it, or learn how to get involved in the fight against hunger, at #linkinbio.
Today, inflation, skyrocketing grocery bills, and Today, inflation, skyrocketing grocery bills, and drastic rent hikes are forcing families to make difficult choices. With limited resources, too many parents skip meals so their kids can eat.But you can help. As a monthly donor - see link in bio - your support will provide twice as many meals to families this summer, thanks to a generous matching gift from Health First. #summer #match #feedhopenow
Ready, set, bid! The Ultimate Garden Party silent Ready, set, bid!  The Ultimate Garden Party silent auction is now open! Place your bids on travel packages, theme park tickets, dining experiences, gift baskets, and much more! 🏨 🍽️ 🏖️ Every dollar raised through the silent auction can help provide four meals to our neighbors facing hunger this summer. Bid now at link in bio. #ultimategardenparty #silentauction #bidearly #feedhopenow
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Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is a member of Feeding America – the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. Second Harvest secures and distributes food and grocery products to approximately 550 local nonprofit feeding programs throughout Central Florida. Last year, with the help of food and financial donors, volunteers and a caring, committed community, the food bank distributed more than 63 million meals to partner programs such as food pantries, soup kitchens, women’s shelters, senior centers, daycare centers and Kids Cafes. On average, Second Harvest is distributing enough food to feed 58,000 people a day.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit recognized by the IRS. Tax ID Number: 59-2142315 Email: info@feedhopenow.org

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Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
411 Mercy Drive, Orlando, Florida 32805
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