• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Need Help?
  • 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.

Nutrition Beyond the Table

March 6, 2024 by Erika Spence

During National Nutrition Month this March, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is embracing the theme of “Beyond the Table” to showcase how the Food Bank’s work on health and hunger impacts many facets of our lives, from overall health and wellness to fueling future success.

By taking a collaborative approach, Second Harvest is working to increase access to nutritious foods, establish partnerships with healthcare practitioners and provide nutrition education classes to help improve the health and well-being of Central Florida.


Access to Nutritious Foods

Second Harvest is committed to ensuring the food available to our neighbors is nutritious by working with local farmers, vendors, retail partners and food donors to provide the community with fresh produce and nutrient-dense foods. Second Harvest is positively impacting health and nutrition by prioritizing access and building the capacity of local feeding partners to store and distribute nutritious foods.

Another way Second Harvest incorporates community health into its core work is through the development of the Nutritious Pantry Network. By leveraging its extensive network of feeding programs, a group of pantries is participating in capacity-building efforts that allow them to provide healthier foods and nutrition education for people referred from clinics, hospitals, and doctors’ offices.


Healthcare Partnerships

Since 2016, Second Harvest has been convening the Health & Hunger Task Force of Central Florida, a coalition of local healthcare providers and nutrition-focused organizations that identify opportunities to measurably impact health by using food as medicine.

One outcome of the Task Force is a concerted effort to connect with practitioners across Central Florida, including hospital systems, free and charitable clinics, federally funded health centers, and local medical practices to encourage food insecurity screening and intervention. Working together to provide screening and referral to Second Harvest local feeding partners ensures that patients experiencing food insecurity and who need support to improve food-related chronic illnesses are connected to a local feeding partner.

Another opportunity is a Medically Tailored Meals pilot program that aims to help people experiencing food insecurity and managing at least one severe illness improve their health outcomes through food. The current program allows local healthcare providers to refer eligible patients with chronic kidney disease to the food bank. Then Second Harvest designs a menu to meet that patient’s unique nutritional needs and prepares, packs and delivers the meals.


Nutrition Education

Nutrition education helps neighbors learn how food impacts health. Nutrition educators lead engaging workshops and cooking demonstrations across all seven Central Florida counties to inspire neighbors to make small changes that can positively impact their health.

Classes are available for various age groups, such as youth/teens, families with children, adults and seniors. Topics vary, including shopping and cooking healthy on a budget, reading nutrition labels, improving and maintaining a healthy gut, and more.

Your support of health and hunger initiatives makes food’s healing and restorative power possible for neighbors experiencing food insecurity at the table, and beyond.

Food is more than a meal.

learn more

  • Share on Twitter Share on Twitter
  • Share on Facebook Share on Facebook
  • Share on LinkedIn Share on LinkedIn


Read More Stories of Your Impact

Fighting Summer Hunger Takes Many Forms

July 15, 2025

Fighting Summer Hunger With Better Rural Access

July 10, 2025

Feeding Brighter Futures at Second Harvest’s Culinary Training Program

July 8, 2025

Filed Under: Health and hunger, Hunger News, Programs You Support Tagged With: food is medicine, health and hunger, healthcare partnerships, nutrition, nutrition education

Primary Sidebar

Your inbox, our impact.
See how you feed hope.

SIGN UP

Donate Monthly

Stories, News & More

  • Stories of Hope & Courage
  • Culinary Student Stories
  • Health and Hunger
  • Programs You Support
  • Gratitude Report Stories
  • Advocacy News
  • Volunteer News

Search

Follow Us!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

feedhopenow

Inspiring and engaging Central Florida to end hunger.
🍏 Use #feedhopenow for a chance to be featured.

The @floridafuturefarmer packed more than 80,000 p The @floridafuturefarmer packed more than 80,000 pounds of Fresh Florida produce this week for its annual service project! 👏400 members of the FFA joined Feeding Florida and Second Harvest team members to pack enough carrots and potatoes for 66,000 meals at the Caribe Royal. The project was sponsored by Suncoast Credit Union. 🥕🥔Thank you for taking action to support neighbors facing hunger! 🧡➡️Ways you can help at the link in bio.
Sometimes enticing kids (and adults) to eat more v Sometimes enticing kids (and adults) to eat more vegetables takes some creativity and a preparation shift! 🥕🥦Learn how Maureen Hawkins, Director of Health and Hunger Strategies at the food bank, prepares sweet potatoes that her kids find fun and delicious. 🍠#EatYourVegetablesDay
“This is only the beginning of what’s to come, “This is only the beginning of what’s to come,” said Melody, a Culinary Training Program graduate. 🎉On June 7, Second Harvest recognized 17 Culinary Training Program students during a graduation ceremony. Food bank staff, family, friends, and employers joined the celebration to recognize each student’s achievements. 🎓➡️Read more at the link in bio.
Second Harvest stands beside all the dads, stepdad Second Harvest stands beside all the dads, stepdads, grandfathers, uncles, big brothers, guardians, caretakers and all other father figures in the Central Florida community! 🧡Happy Father's Day! 🎉feedhopenow.org 🍏
Nothing brings people together like good food! 🍽️📣Only FOUR WEEKS until the region's premier culinary event: @tastecfl!Your support helps provide more meals to more children facing hunger.➡️Tickets & event details: tastecfl.org
Food is medicine, and Volusia County residents can Food is medicine, and Volusia County residents can get a produce prescription. 🍏The food bank's Mobile Farmers Market initiative, in conjunction with the @florida.health in Volusia County, increases access to fresh produce for adults with hypertension. 🚐Residents who receive a referral shop for $36 worth of fresh produce each week when the specially outfitted refrigerated vehicle visits one of three Department of Health locations in Daytona Beach or Orange City, as pictured.➡️Read more at the link in bio.#communityhealthimprovementweek #foodismedicine
For 12 weeks this spring, kids and families at thr For 12 weeks this spring, kids and families at three @elcoc_ sites received 300 boxes of fresh produce as part of Project VEGGIE (Vegetable Eating Gets Going with Increased Exposure), a research partnership underway with @uflorida.The boxes contained 2,850 pounds of fresh fruits and veggies, like sweet potatoes, carrots, Granny Smith and Red Delicious apples, oranges, strawberries, kale, corn, broccoli, cucumber, blueberries, cauliflower and tomatoes.Getting kids to eat vegetables can be challenging, but this collaborative effort looks at how the impact of increased exposure may influence new eating patterns, improving health, and ultimately the well-being of our community.We can't wait to share results this fall! #CHIWeek
Community Health Improvement Week is a great time Community Health Improvement Week is a great time to bring awareness to the many ways improving community health and fighting hunger go hand in hand. 🍏Increasing access to nutritious foods not only fights hunger but also improves health outcomes for people facing food insecurity.Certified Nutritious Pantries are the food bank's feeding partners that implement practices including offering fresh produce, nutrition education classes, healthy recipe ideas, and more. Recently, several more partners have completed this milestone.➡️More about the Nutritious Pantry Network at the link in bio.
10 seconds of hope, because of you. Every day, 300 10 seconds of hope, because of you. Every day, 300,00 meals are distributed across Central Florida. Keep fighting hunger at FeedHopeNow.org. #food #foodbank #fooddistribution #secondharvest #feedhope #feedingamerica
"If can conquer space, we can conquer childhood hu "If can conquer space, we can conquer childhood hunger." 🚀This is a great opportunity to showcase your love for Second Harvest and passion for fighting childhood hunger this summer. 📣While these T-shirts are primarily about spreading awareness about food insecurity and fostering community spirit, they also serve as a conversation starter about the impact of the food bank and its supporters! 👕➡️Get yours today at the link in bio.
With your support, Second Harvest bridges the gap With your support, Second Harvest bridges the gap for kids and families all summer long. 🌞By driving semi-trucks packed with food to church parking lots, stocking local food pantry shelves and delivering kid-friendly meals to summer camps, libraries and community centers, kids like Tobias have the food they need to just be kids. 🚐“I love the food I get here,” Tobias says with a bright smile. His favorite part of lunch is fruit. “We get apples or oranges or bananas. I like it all.” 🍏Community support from donors, volunteers, and local feeding partners helps to brighten summer days with meals and hope. Thank you. 🧡➡️Read more about your impact on kids facing hunger this summer at the link in bio.
Sometimes fighting hunger means meeting people whe Sometimes fighting hunger means meeting people where they are, bringing food to their doors. 🍏Sharing Hope, one of the food bank's partners, gets food to the people who need it in an unconventional way, no drive-through distribution or dedicated food pantry. Instead, volunteers spend every Friday preparing meals, packing bags of groceries and heading out on the road to deliver food to neighbors. 🚐➡️Read more about how this group fights hunger on the road at the link in bio.
Culinary Training Program Picture Day! Toward th Culinary Training Program Picture Day! Toward the end of the program, students have the opportunity to have a professional headshot taken. They can use these photos in their future culinary careers. Learn more about the Culinary Training Program at the #linkinbio. #pictureday #headshot #culinary #culinaryschool #feedhopenow
Grateful for @hiclubvacations this #ThankfulThursd Grateful for @hiclubvacations this #ThankfulThursday! 🎉🧡They donated a pallet-wrapper, an absolute essential at the food bank's distribution center. Team members from Holiday Inn Club Vacations recently volunteered at the food banks and got to see their donation in action.➡️More ways to help fight hunger at the link in bio.
✨It's exciting to be nominated for Best Local Ch ✨It's exciting to be nominated for Best Local Charitable Group in the Best of Orlando poll and to be in such good company with impact-driven organizations —thank you, @orlandoweekly readers!!! 🎉➡️Vote at the link in bio, and thank you for all your continued support to fight hunger and feed hope in Central Florida. 🧡
Ensuring your family has a hunger-free and hope-fi Ensuring your family has a hunger-free and hope-filled summer! 🌞From free meals for kids 18 and younger at Summer Break Spots, to more than 870 feeding partners across Central Florida, to help with SNAP benefits, here are ways to find help with food security this summer.🍏 Food Finder🍏 Summer Break Spot🍏 Benefits Connection➡️More about how to help and find help this summer at the link in bio.
Things are getting better for Amy because of you. Things are getting better for Amy because of you. 🧡She stepped away from her career as a professional chef to stay at home and raise her son. When her boyfriend lost his job, Amy sought ways to stretch their budget without compromising nutrition. She discovered a food pantry supported by Second Harvest. 🍏“It’s those little things that help us get the day by, get the month by,” Amy says.➡️Read more about Amy's gratitude for food bank supporters at the link in bio.
As schools and cafeterias close for the summer, ma As schools and cafeterias close for the summer, many children and families, who rely on school-provided meals for critical nutrition, are left facing a summer of worry and hunger.By taking action, you can help fill the gap of nutritious meals to children and families, ensuring a hunger-free summer. 🧡Ways to Help:🍏Donate.🍏Volunteer.🍏Start a Food and Fund Drive.feedhopenow.org➡️Read more about fighting summer hunger at the link in bio.
Groups of all kinds and sizes volunteer at the foo Groups of all kinds and sizes volunteer at the food bank! 🍏The Orlando 'Canes, the local chapter of the @umiami_alumni, showed up in force to help at our main distribution center. 🧡💚Gather your co-workers, club members or neighbors and come fight hunger at Second Harvest!📣➡️Sign up to volunteer at the link in bio.
Once enrolled in the Culinary Training Program, Ca Once enrolled in the Culinary Training Program, Carmen began to flourish. She adapted quickly to the rhythm of the kitchen, steadily gaining confidence and self-assurance. 🍽️“Now I’m cooking from scratch,” Carmen explained with pride.Over 16 weeks, the program teaches students like Carmen the essential skills for a new career in food service. 🍝Carmen has transformed from a program participant to a culinary professional. She is leveraging the skills and support she gained from the program to carve a successful career at a local theme park. 🧡➡️Read more about Carmen's life transformation at the link in bio.
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. SHFBCF secures and distributes food and grocery products to more than 500 local nonprofit feeding partners throughout Central Florida. Through the help of food and financial donors, volunteers and a caring, committed community, the food bank distributes enough food for a quarter of a million meals every day to the six-county service area. Feeding our neighbors facing hunger is only the beginning. By investing in job training programs, advocating for access to nutritious foods, and inspiring our community to get involved, SHFBCF is leaning into the root causes of hunger and transforming lives. With the support of our Central Florida community, Second Harvest Food Bank is feeding inspiration, change, achievement, health — and families facing hunger. To learn more about SHFBCF, visit FeedHopeNow.org.

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 © 2025 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in