• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Event Calendar
  • DONATE NOW
  • Visit Our Website
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida

Blogging at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida

Fighting hunger. Feeding hope.

Fighting hunger. Feeding hope.

Heather’s Story of Hope & Courage

October 23, 2019 by Erika Spence

Heather visiting one of Second Harvest’s feeding partners.

The 2018 ALICE report revealed that almost half of Central Florida’s residents are not earning enough income to pay for basic living expenses like rent, electricity, food and clothing. Like many families who live paycheck to paycheck, Heather and her husband try to keep their budget simple. She tries to instill the values of appreciation and gratitude in their six children for the things they do have.

“We count our blessings, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have to scrounge around to try and make ends meet,” she says.

Heather left her job at a restaurant two years ago to stay home with their youngest child. The cost of daycare prohibited her from returning to work. Her husband continues to work in food service. There are times when his paycheck is not enough and after paying rent and utilities, there isn’t money left to shop at the grocery store.

“I felt hopeless before I found this pantry,” Heather explains. “Now I know I have someone on my side, someone who has my back.”

Heather knows that when there are too many expenses and not enough money in the bank, she can visit a pantry supported by Second Harvest Food Bank to get the help she needs to keep her family fed. A network of 550 feeding partners across six counties offers emergency food assistance and community meal programs to help bridge the gap of unmet need in Central Florida.

“There were times when I didn’t know where we were going to get food, or how we were going to celebrate the holidays,” said Heather. “You made sure we had a Christmas dinner.”

Heather is currently trying to save for the registration fee at daycare so she can return to work when her son celebrates his third birthday. Her goal is not to visit the pantry as a recipient, but as a donor.

“The food pantry is a temporary bridge,” adds Heather. Once she’s on the other side, she hopes to repay the kindness that’s been given to her.

“You give me hope and make my children smile. Thank you.”

You can help ensure that families like Heather’s have access to nutritious meals in their time of need.

GIVE NOW
  • Share on Twitter Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook Share on Facebook
  • Share on LinkedIn Share on LinkedIn


Read More Stories of Hope & Courage

You are Rebuilding Hope

March 15, 2022

Your Generosity is Priceless

November 23, 2021

Crystal’s story of hope and courage

May 14, 2021

Filed Under: Stories of Hope & Courage Tagged With: Feeding Partners, Pantries

Primary Sidebar

$25 monthly
feeds a child
for a year.

GIVE MONTHLY

Stories, News & More

  • Advocacy Alerts
  • Coronavirus Relief Efforts
  • Culinary Student Stories
  • Healthy Recipes
  • Programs You Support
  • Stories of Hope & Courage
  • Volunteer News

Fresh news delivered your inbox!

SIGN UP

Search

Follow Us!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

feedhopenow

feedhopenow
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
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Footer

About Us

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

VISIT OUR WEBSITE

FeedHopeNow.org

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Search

Contact Us

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
411 Mercy Drive, Orlando, Florida 32805
(p) 407-295-1066
Click here for more information.

Copyright © 2022 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in