Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida has completed the installation of a new Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system designed to strengthen operations and enhance emergency preparedness at the nonprofit’s Orlando distribution center.
On June 22, U.S. Congressman Maxwell Frost (D-FL 10th) visited the food bank to view the completed project, which was made possible through $200,000 in federal appropriations funding he helped secure.
The TES system supports the food bank’s commercial freezer operations by storing thermal energy during off-peak hours. It will also provide stable temperatures during power outages, equipment malfunctions and severe weather events. The technology offers an added layer of protection for frozen foods and other perishable items that will be distributed to neighbors facing hunger across Central Florida.
“Addressing hunger requires more than food alone – it requires the infrastructure and resources necessary to safely store and distribute it,” said Derrick Chubbs, President and CEO at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. “We’re grateful for Congressman Frost’s partnership in helping to secure this investment. It strengthens our ability to serve families throughout Central Florida today while positioning us to meet their needs in the future.”
The project is also expected to generate energy savings for Second Harvest that can be reinvested into food purchases and hunger relief programs.
“Second Harvest is doing incredible work to help families across our region,” said Congressman Frost. “Investments like this may not always be visible to the public, but they play a critical role in making sure food reaches the people who depend on it.”
As the region’s largest emergency food provider, Second Harvest distributes enough food to provide approximately 300,000 meals a day through its network of community feeding partners and direct service programs. everything they are offered. “We have a little return table (for unopened food), and it has been all gone.”
