Food Fuels Learning and Builds Community

Blogging at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida

Fighting hunger. Feeding hope.

Fighting hunger. Feeding hope.

Helping Neighbors Find Stability Through Food

by

Premwatie persevered through many personal challenges to provide for her family.

She moved to Central Florida as a single mother of three boys, working as a Certified Nursing Assistant in an assisted living facility.

Her circumstances were made even more challenging when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, undergoing chemotherapy treatment and a double mastectomy.

Unable to keep her job because of her cancer treatment and its harsh side effects, Premwatie receives disability benefits, but it isn’t enough to be food secure.

She applied for SNAP benefits, and receives $23 a month, which doesn’t go very far.

“I go to the store, get a gallon of milk and maybe about three items,” Premwatie said. “It’s not enough.”

She looked elsewhere for hope and for help with food and found what she needed at Catholic Charities of Central Florida in Orlando, one of Second Harvest’s feeding partners.

“Coming here is the greatest help,” Premwatie said. “They give you good stuff. I love the meat. Sometimes I get double bags of meat and that helps.”

The bread, fruits, vegetables and even things like cake and holiday items she receives at the food pantry are all appreciated and useful to Premwatie and her family.

She said the people at the food pantry are the best part, though. They treat her well, seem happy to see her and know her by name.

“They’re like, ‘Hey, Premwatie! You’re here!” she said with a smile on her face. She went on to say the volunteers even helped load up the food in her car, which she appreciates. “It’s great help here.”

The food she receives every week provides the food security she needs for her family.

 “The amount of stuff that I got in that box, it’s enough,” Premwatie said. “It’s a great thing you’re doing here. I think it’s helping a lot of people.”

Help ensure neighbors like Premwatie have enough food.

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"It feels like Christmas because Christmas is magical," said Emma, age 10. "It feels like this, like an opportunity for a better life." "I think it's like Christmas and Thanksgiving because at Christmas you get and give gifts, and at Thanksgiving you're thankful," said Serena, age 11. Emma and Serena were among a group of fifth-grade student ambassadors at Kissimmee Elementary at the grand opening celebration of Benny's Bodega, the newest School Market in Osceola County. As school leaders, they were responsible for stocking the shelves inside the market. Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida recently celebrated the grand opening of Benny's Bodega with the student volunteers, school leaders and donors who made it possible. Funding from the Poinsette Foundation has allowed Kissimmee Elementary to join the food bank's School Partnerships Program. This program is a student-centered, stigma-reducing approach to preventing childhood hunger. It not only provides nutritious food to students in need but also fosters a sense of community and support within the school. "What we do is open the market to the entire student body, so there are no questions of need or eligibility," said Briana Rebello, the food bank's School Partnerships Manager. With one in six children in Central Florida at risk of going to bed hungry on any given night, the School Market at Kissimmee Elementary provides students with greater access to the nutritious foods they need to learn, grow and thrive both in and out of the classroom. "This vital community resource would not be open today without the generous support of the Poinsette Foundation," said Derrick Chubbs, President and CEO at Second Harvest. "Our partnership means that together we're creating a stronger, healthier future for the kids and families who call Kissimmee home." Mia Poinsette, Founder and Executive Director of the Poinsette Foundation, added, "Hunger should never be a barrier to learning. By partnering with Second Harvest to bring a School Market to Kissimmee Elementary, we're not just ensuring that nutritious food is accessible, but we are also investing in every student's ability to focus, thrive, and achieve healthier lives." Principal Elizabeth Terry said teachers and staff had students who asked for additional food at school meals or were coming in hungry after the weekends. "We had some sponsored food that was gone quickly, and we needed more," she said. "Parents were asking our school liaison for food, and the fact that they were asking meant it was a need." It's truly a community school, Elizabeth said. Seventy-five percent of the students walk to the Title 1 school, and parent involvement is very high. "Our parents are hard-working and so involved. We see it as a great opportunity to build relationships," said Elizabeth. "The students stock and the parents shop. We've had great responses." Second Harvest works with a network of 870 feeding partners, including 76 School Partnerships across its seven-county service area. Last year, the program provided more than 766,800 meals to students and families.