Caring individuals like Devoy, Andrise, Jaquie and J.J. help Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida fight hunger and feed hope in unique and different ways. By working toward the same goal, they create a brighter, more hopeful tomorrow for their neighbors and the greater Central Florida community with every action, big and small.
Devoy
Second Harvest truck driver
Devoy fights hunger one mile at a time.
“I graduated from high school and I was looking for a job. I really didn’t know anything about the food bank,” Devoy recalls, reflecting on 20 years as a truck driver for the food bank.
“I’m a giving person, and that’s what the food bank is all about. Helping those in need.”
Devoy gets up before the sun, loads pallets of fresh produce, meat and pantry staples onto a semi-truck, and drives the food safely to distribution events where volunteers help give boxes filled with food and hope to hundreds of families.
“The most rewarding thing is when I see the smiles on those people’s faces and how happy they are to see me pull up,” Devoy says. “Knowing that I am part of many helping people in Central Florida who are dealing with hunger. That’s the most rewarding thing about it.”
Andrise
Feeding partner, Christ Sanctified Church
Andrise fights hunger at a weekly food giveaway.
“Hunger does exist in our backyard,” says Andrise, who helps facilitate a food pantry at Christ Sanctified Church in Pine Hills. Second Harvest works with more than 750 feeding partners to distribute food to neighbors facing food insecurity. Andrise is one of the individuals who work with these partners to make this mission possible.
On Thursdays, Andrise picks up food from Second Harvest’s warehouse. Later that same day, she helps distribute it to her neighbors.
“I am thankful that we are there to serve so that no family goes hungry,” Andrise says. “Our neighbors have built a community while waiting to be served and care for each other, and many friendships have formed.”
Jaquie
Ultimate Garden Party committee co-chair
Jaquie fights hunger by speaking up.
Jaquie began volunteering with the food bank nine years ago and immediately felt she could make an impact.
“I had so much fun and was blown away by the amount of people in my community dealing with food insecurity,” Jaquie says. “Strangely enough, I didn’t feel hopeless; I felt motivated to act and do something about it.”
Learning about food insecurity changed Jaquie’s life. She lives a life of service, constantly thinking of ways to support Central Florida neighbors facing hunger.
“I give to the local pantries, send extra snacks to school for my kids to share with their friends, and connect families needing extra help with Second Harvest or other community partners.”
After volunteering at several events, Jaquie became the co-chair of the Ultimate Garden Party, Second Harvest’s signature fundraising event. She’s an integral part of the event, which each year helps to raise funds for more than one million meals.
J.J.
Volunteer
J.J. fights hunger by taking action.
J.J.’s involvement with Second Harvest began over a decade ago, volunteering in the warehouse, at mobile food distributions and as a food drive coordinator with HOPE Worldwide Orlando.
“So often we can see that someone else has a need,” J.J. says. “We struggle thinking either, ‘I have nothing to offer,’ or something like, ‘Well, someone else will help them.’ Through Second Harvest, I have found that I can be that ‘someone else’ and have an impact. The experience has helped me to see beyond my personal needs and into the joy of doing things for others.”
J.J. is passionate about getting others involved in hunger relief. He knows that no action is too small to make a difference.
“Keep in mind that every bit of support helps. There is no donation so small that it can’t make a difference,” J.J. says.
J.J.’s advice is to start by doing what feels doable to you. Whether it is one volunteer shift, one bag of donated food, or one event, every action adds up to make a big difference.
