The Emergency Food Assistance Program Provides Stability for Central Florida Families

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a lifeline for local families facing hunger. This federal initiative supplements the diets of low-income individuals and families with fresh and nonperishable food, all sourced from American farms and funded through the U.S. Farm Bill. Food banks like Second Harvest play a crucial role in receiving, storing, and distributing these foods to neighbors across Brevard, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties.

3 ways to fight hunger this summer

As schools and cafeterias close for the summer, many children and families, who rely on school-provided meals for critical nutrition, are left facing the unfathomable: a summer of worry and hunger. The inflated cost of essentials coupled with the absence of essential school meals during summer break adds to the stress and tough decisions that parents face, such as choosing between paying rent and putting food on the table. 

By taking action, you can help food banks like Second Harvest step up their programming to distribute nutritious food to children and families, ensuring a hunger-free summer.

“Everything is going up.”

“Everything is going up: rent, food, gas, water, light bills,” says Amanda, a resilient mom in Kissimmee who recently visited a mobile food distribution to pick up food for her family.

Second Harvest Awarded $200,000 in Federal Appropriations Funding

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida was recently awarded $200,000 in federal appropriations funding to enhance a vital component of food bank infrastructure. 

On Monday, May 13, Congressman Maxwell Frost (D-FL 10th) presented Second Harvest president and CEO Derrick Chubbs with a check to purchase a new Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system. This technology investment will significantly enhance the efficiency and reliability of Second Harvest’s commercial freezer.