When Anna goes to the grocery store nowadays, she puts most items back on the shelf.
Because of rising prices, she finds herself only able to afford a few things at a time.
“I’ll just do without rather than pay the prices, and they’re just getting worse,” Anna said. “I’d rather use the money to pay bills than to put out on something that’s not worth it.”
She is one of the one in seven Central Floridians who face food insecurity and are forced to make tough decisions about whether to purchase food or pay rent and other bills. Neighbors like Anna turn to mobile food distributions, like the one hosted by Wings of Faith recently in Ocala for which she waited hours in line.
“It’s very fresh food,” Anna said of why she was willing to wait to receive food at the distribution. “I saw eggs. That was a big one. And cabbage and carrots and bakery items.”
Dale, who runs the mobile distributions, said it’s amazing watching the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida semi-truck arrive every time, even after 14 distributions in 2025. He knows it is going to help a lot of people and put a lot of meals on tables.
“Our world is a tough world today,” he said, acknowledging the realities facing many of his neighbors. However, he experiences joy in helping others. “It’s the kind of joy that gives me the strength to do the things I do, to see the smiles on the faces, to see people who come in and say thank you. There are literally people going through the line today with tears in their eyes saying, ‘thank you, thank you.’”
The food given out at a recent mobile distribution held at the Rotary Sportsplex included fresh chicken, eggs, milk, and lots of produce like carrots, collard greens, cabbage, sweet potatoes and cantaloupe. Dale estimated that each household received about $155 worth of groceries.
“It stretches their dollars,” he explained. “It’s not unusual for people to come in and say they need help with the electric bill, or they have a doctor’s bill they need to pay.”
While the food ministry can’t help with other bills, they can help with food, thanks to generous food donors, financial supporters and resources from Second Harvest.
”I can help you with groceries. We can provide you enough food to get your family though this week.”
He said the number of people seeking food assistance has increased. He said there have been about 70 new families a month reaching out for help.
The support of the community is critical to helping feed those families, Dale said.
“Anything that anyone could do would be more than greatly appreciated,” he said. “And there are multiple ways to do that. Anything you give to Second Harvest, you actually give to agencies like us to provide for people in our communities.”
