Vangie Booth has been part of the Benefits Connection team since 2008 and witnessed how the program has evolved to meet the community's needs. She helped steer the program through the pandemic, pivoting from an in-person model to over the phone and reintroducing the program to the community. Here are her reflections on 15 years of fighting hunger through the Benefits Connection … [Read more...] about Benefits Connection: Reflecting on 15 Years of Helping Neighbors Put Food on the Table
food insecurity
Second Harvest’s Benefits Connection Program Marks 15 Years of Community Impact
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida launched its Benefits Connection Program at the peak of the Great Recession. Connecting people to food assistance benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was a new approach for the Food Bank. Still, with thousands of workers unemployed, it was a vital resource to help keep food on the … [Read more...] about Second Harvest’s Benefits Connection Program Marks 15 Years of Community Impact
This Summer, Storm Prep Is Critical for Florida’s Food Banks
For most people, “storm preparedness” means gathering bottled water and essentials, topping off the gas tank, and keeping one eye on the news. But what does it mean for the local food bank? As Central Florida’s emergency food supply, Second Harvest Food Bank starts working on its storm prep checklist well in advance. When the new year begins, we’ve already begun stocking up … [Read more...] about This Summer, Storm Prep Is Critical for Florida’s Food Banks
Medically Tailored Meals
Since ancient times, people have recognized that food is medicine. What someone eats has a profound effect on their everyday health and well-being. What is not as well known is that our low-income neighbors suffer disproportionately from chronic diseases simply because they cannot afford the same level of nutrition as more affluent consumers. Even more tragic, people living … [Read more...] about Medically Tailored Meals
You are serving up smiles this summer
Classic summer activities center around food, like grilling hamburgers at a family barbeque, roasting s’mores at summer camp, or the watermelon eating contest at Fourth of July celebrations. However, for one in seven of your Central Florida neighbors, summer activities are riddled with anxiety, worry and gut-wrenching financial decisions, especially at the grocery store. For … [Read more...] about You are serving up smiles this summer
