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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.

Tikaya’s Story of Hope & Courage

December 3, 2019 by Erika Spence

Tikaya in her home kitchen.

If you’d met Tikaya two years ago, you would say she was on the right track. She graduated from Jones High School, earned an associate’s degree and completed cosmetology training. She worked as a stylist for several years and began teaching at a local college. Tikaya and her three children were happy, healthy and helpful.

“My passion was always helping people, either in the stylist chair or cooking a meal for them. I was always trying to reach out and help someone,” she recalls. “And my youngest son, he’s a giver too, always asking if he can help me or someone else.”

Her career derailed when the cosmetology program closed. Unable to keep up with her bills, her car was repossessed. With no income and no car, Tikaya often cried herself to sleep.

“I felt like my life was hopeless. I didn’t know where to go to find help.”

Tikaya reached out to the United Way’s 2-1-1 Helpline and was able to connect with a food pantry in Second Harvest’s network. There she was able to pick up a cart filled with groceries, including peanut butter, her son’s favorite, bread to make sandwiches for lunch, and other pantry staples.

“I feel good now,” said Tikaya, after visiting the pantry. “I have some food in the freezer. I have some fruit and snacks for the kids to enjoy too. As long as the children are happy, mom is happy.”

Tikaya is currently enrolled in a job training program. Her children board the school bus every morning and one block down, she boards a different bus bound for her own school.

“I’ve learned to never say never. You never know when you may lose your job, or your car, or worse,” Tikaya explains. “You never know when you’ll need a helping hand and an opportunity to get back on track.”

You can help ensure that families like Tikaya’s have access to the nutritious foods they need.

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

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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
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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. 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

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Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
411 Mercy Drive, Orlando, Florida 32805
(p) 407-295-1066
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