Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida

Stocking the shelves at school markets means one less stop for busy families rushing from work to pick up students after school. Increasing access to nutritious food and reducing barriers to it is one key component of the School Partnerships Program. ?? “I was looking for help, and the school recommended the market to me,” explains Kenyetta, as she and her daughters pick up groceries at their elementary school market. “It helps me out because I’m a single mom with a tight budget.” Her daughters, Kylie and Kaliyah, often volunteer to pack boxes and bags of food at the market, a role that empowers them and makes them feel part of a larger community. ?? “We’re helping people, and it helps us out too,” adds Kaliyah. ?? You help fuel student success with School Partnerships: https://lnkd.in/eg7yXYKe #foodislearning #nationalnutritionmonth

Patti began her mission to fight hunger when she was in elementary school. ?? She worked with a group of students collecting food to help neighbors in her hometown of Joliet, Illinois. “Even as a young person, I felt the need to help those who were struggling and who had not received the blessings that I had growing up,” said Patti, Second Harvest’s Director of Agency Relations. “Because family meals were such a constant in my life growing up, the thought that some people did not have enough to eat was hard for me to imagine.” ?? ??Read more about Patti's lifelong mission: https://lnkd.in/ePeyNz7D

?? ?? ?? : me! Some of my favorite recent photos!

??It was a day of celebration and hope for the Apostolic Church of Jesus when it recently reopened its on-site food pantry, following two years of rebuilding after a devastating fire. The pantry never stopped distributing food, including the day following the fire. ??Second Harvest remained committed to ACOJ and the Altamonte neighborhood its serves throughout the recovery and rebuilding process by hosting regular mobile distributions. With the restored pantry, AJOC will be able to store and distribute food more consistently to neighbors. ??Read more about how this pantry has a long history of fighting hunger and feeding hope: https://lnkd.in/ezEh_WnB

Recently, Second Harvest staff met with members of Congress and their staff in Washington, D.C. to discuss the importance of federal health and nutrition assistance programs under consideration in budget reconciliation and the Farm Bill. Thank you Senator Rick Scott and Congressman Darren Soto, Congressman Maxwell Frost, Representative Cory Mills, Representative Daniel Webster, and Congressman Mike Haridopolos for discussing how these proven strategies support our nation's farmers and families facing hunger. ??How to advocate for your neighbors facing hunger: https://lnkd.in/eh8hHSdi #NationalAgDay

Celebrating and grateful for Florida farmers on National Ag Day and every day! ?? More than 34 million pounds of fresh produce from Florida farms was distributed by Second Harvest last year. ?????????? #NationalAgDay #FreshfromFlorida #FloridaFarms ??What's in season now: https://lnkd.in/eHed8cXU

The gratitude of neighbors inspired Alice to fight hunger and feed hope as a Second Harvest volunteer. ?? The church she attends is a feeding partner of the food bank, and Alice interacted with those facing hunger at food distributions. “It made me want to do it more,” she said. “This is one small thing to me, but it is a big thing for those facing hunger and in need.” ??Read more about this woman on a mission: https://lnkd.in/ebyxpWzJ

Remember to wear green and eat your greens today for good luck! ?? Happy St. Patrick's Day, Central Florida! ???? ??feedhopenow.org

?? Donations stay local! 1 in 8 people experience food insecurity in Central Florida. Here’s a chance to help. Donations made at your local Walmart + Sam's Club during the #fighthungersparkchange campaign stay right here in your community to help your neighbors facing hunger. ? Get involved, now through 3/31. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gx-pf6nn

Getting kids to eat vegetables can be challenging, but increasing their exposure to fresh produce may help. ?? A health education and behavior professor from the University of Florida has launched a research project to find out. ?? Project VEGGIE (Vegetable Eating Gets Going with Increased Exposure) is a 12-week pilot program that brings together Second Harvest in partnership with UF Professor Dr. Layton Reeser-Oyer, the Early Learning Coalition of Orange County (ELCOC) and volunteers from the University of Central Florida. ?? ??Learn more about this fun and exciting project: https://lnkd.in/e4xSsmB3