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Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida

Blogging at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida

Fighting hunger. Feeding hope.

Fighting hunger. Feeding hope.

The Past and Present of Hunger in Florida

December 27, 2021 by Dave Krepcho Leave a Comment

Growing up as one of five kids in a steel town in Pennsylvania, I came home from school every day to a dinner table piled high with my mom’s cooking: meatloaf, green beans, steaming-hot mashed potatoes – the works.

But one day, dinner wasn’t there.

Thinking it was a joke, I asked, “Where’s the food?” My mom told me, “Eat what’s in front of you, and go do your homework.” That night, my dinner was a silver can of USDA peanut butter, saltines and a glass of water.

Before long, things went back to normal, and we started having our family dinners again, but I never forgot that day. My parents never talked about it. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I learned workers at my dad’s steel company had gone on strike, and we just didn’t have enough of a cushion in the household budget to make ends meet.

I learned a lesson that I’ve carried with me all these years: You don’t realize how important good, fresh, healthy food is until it’s gone. When that happens, you’re not just going to sleep hungry – you’re losing the security and the comfort of having enough to eat. Sometimes that lasts for a few weeks, like until Dad’s steel factory reopened. Sometimes it lasts a lifetime.

When I took leadership of Second Harvest Food Bank in 2004, I knew that our biggest challenge wasn’t just getting food to the families who needed it. It was in reevaluating the way we look at food and the “face” of what we imagine hunger looks like.

Through hurricanes, recessions and the long haul of the pandemic, we’ve kept that goal at the forefront. Today, Second Harvest is Central Florida’s largest hunger-relief network, serving more than 250,000 meals to our six-county service area every day. That happens in classrooms and shelters, grocery drop-offs and home deliveries to seniors.

Each meal means one more person who doesn’t have to worry about what their kids will eat for dinner, or one more person who doesn’t have to choose between buying groceries or life-saving prescription medication. It goes without saying that none of what we’ve achieved would have been possible without the immense, awe-inspiring outpouring of support we’ve seen from the members of our community.

Almost two decades after taking the helm of this organization, I can pass the torch to Second Harvest’s next leader, Derrick Chubbs, with the confidence that we’ve come a long way. But as I look back on my career, I know our work still isn’t done.

Having enough to eat is a determining factor for lifelong health, both physical and mental. It’s a predictor of success in school, success at work and earning potential. Even in the short term, eating nutritious, fresh food can make the difference in whether someone gets readmitted to the hospital or whether they recover safely at home.

To end hunger in Florida, we need to work systemically with organizations at all levels of the food chain, from farmers to healthcare providers. After all, hunger isn’t an isolated problem. It’s interconnected with key issues like affordable housing, public transportation, access to healthcare, nutrition and education. Perhaps most critically, we’re still dragged down by stigma and misconceptions about what hunger looks like and who it impacts.

Whether you realize it or not, chances are that you do know someone who lives with food insecurity – whether it’s a colleague, a neighbor, a friend, a child’s classmate or the person standing behind you in the grocery checkout aisle. Hunger is something that people of all ages, of all backgrounds, in all neighborhoods, can face through no fault of their own. But when they do, we will be there to help.

This may be the end of my professional path, but I’m far from finished advocating for others.

I will continue to stand beside Derrick, Second Harvest and its network of 500+ community- pantries to feed hope – and I ask that you join me. By volunteering, donating or just spreading the word about food insecurity in our community, every single person can be a part of the fight to end hunger.

You can make a difference in the lives of kids, families and seniors facing hunger.

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Filed Under: Hunger News Tagged With: dinner, face of hunger, food insecurity, hunger, meals, retirement

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Inspiring and engaging Central Florida to end hunger.
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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.
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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. 🧡
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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.
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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

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