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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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Let's take a look at Second Harvest Young Professi Let's take a look at Second Harvest Young Professionals Trivia Night by the numbers! ✅ 72 attendees!✅ 32 questions answered!✅ 12,984 meals provided to the community facing hunger! Congratulations to the Young Professionals on a successful event! Find more events that support hunger relief here at #linkinbio.Thanks to presenting sponsor @iconparkorlando and supporting sponsors @gobrightline, @legacyresorts, @valleybank, @craftandcommon and @listpropertywithscott. Thank you for investing in fighting hunger and feeding hope!
Hunger relief is a cause close to Jane's heart. Sh Hunger relief is a cause close to Jane's heart. She says it's one of her top priorities in life to make sure people have food on the table. Jane says her favorite part of volunteering is that she plays a part in making a difference for people facing hunger.You can make a difference, too. Start today by signing up to volunteer at #linkinbio.
Spring is in the air! And you know what that means Spring is in the air! And you know what that means — the second annual Ultimate Garden Party is fast approaching! Excitement is growing for this whimsical afternoon party that supports our neighbors facing hunger. Learn more on the #FeedHopeNow blog at #linkinbio.
"Everyone has the potential to make a difference, "Everyone has the potential to make a difference, no matter how you choose to act," Second Harvest Board Chair, Peg Cornwell, writes.You have the power to make a difference for our neighbors facing hunger. You have the power to fight hunger. More from Peg on the #FeedHopeNow blog at #linkinbio.
Fresh, nutritious food heading out to the communit Fresh, nutritious food heading out to the community facing hunger! #MotivationMonday #NationalNutritionMonth Volunteering is a good motivator for any day of the day – not just #MotivationMonday! Sign up at #linkinbio.#feedhopenow #foodbank #orlando #centralflorida #food #produce #volunteer #hunger #hungerrelief
"You must never be fearful about what you are doin "You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right." — Rosa Parks #WomensHistoryMonthA longtime Disney employee, Leigh has brought multiple VoluntEAR groups to the food bank. Leigh recently became a Volunteer Captain, further proving her commitment to the fight against hunger in Central Florida. “Volunteering is a win-win. The volunteer gets fulfillment from knowing they are helping those in need and those receiving the service certainly benefit as well,” she says.Sign up to volunteer today at #linkinbio.
🍰 Culinary students cake our day! 🍰 Recent 🍰 Culinary students cake our day! 🍰 Recently, Publix visited to teach the Culinary Training Program students how to frost and decorate cakes! Check out their incredible creations! Learn more about the Culinary Training Program at #linkinbio.
Last week, more than 400 neighbors lined up to rec Last week, more than 400 neighbors lined up to receive meals during a mobile distribution with One Heart for Women and Children (@oneheartmatters). Some got in line as early as 4 a.m. The neighbors left the distribution with trunks full of fresh, nutritious food along with hope for a brighter tomorrow.To find food assistance near you, visit #linkinbio.
Recently, staff members from Florida Department of Recently, staff members from Florida Department of Children and Families (@myflfamilies) visited the food bank. As they toured, they learned about hunger relief programs, including the Culinary Training Program. They even got to meet one of the instructors, Chef Izzy! Thank you for taking the time to tour the food bank! Together, we're stronger in the fight against hunger.Learn more about hunger relief at #linkinbio.
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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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Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
411 Mercy Drive, Orlando, Florida 32805
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