Wawa Pledges $1 Million to Second Harvest to feed more children and families

Tonight in Central Florida, one in five children is at risk of going to bed hungry. A $1 million grant from Wawa to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida aims to change that statistic by increasing the amount of fresh produce sent home with kids who are experiencing food insecurity.

The goal of Wawa and Second Harvest’s “Fly Beyond” pilot program is to reach more than 53,000 households over a 12-month period through two of the food bank’s childhood hunger prevention initiatives: the School Partnerships and Summer Food Service programs.

Delivering Healthy Food and Hope

While inflation is leveling off, families with limited resources still find it challenging to shop for what they need at the grocery store. That’s where Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and its network of 625 feeding partners step in to provide much-needed food assistance to kids, families and seniors experiencing food insecurity in seven counties, including Marion.

A recent mobile food distribution in Ocala was the first of its kind since the Food Bank expanded services to the area. Second Harvest’s semi-truck delivered nonperishable, shelf-stable food, frozen meat, and fresh produce to families in partnership with Wings of Faith Fellowship.

Second Harvest Expands Health and Hunger Program with Medically Tailored Meals Pilot

For generations, food has been used for medicinal purposes and is known to play a critical role in a healthy lifestyle. That’s a driving force behind why Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida recently launched its new Medically Tailored Meal (MTM) program – a pilot aimed at helping people experiencing food insecurity and managing at least one severe illness.

With the inception of Second Harvest’s MTM program – funded by a grant from DaVita Giving Foundation – local healthcare providers can now refer eligible patients with chronic kidney disease to the food bank for enrollment.

Second Harvest’s Culinary Training Program Marks 10 Years, Looks Ahead to Celebrating More Student Success

Any long-term, sustainable solution to hunger must involve work to feed the line of people seeking help and shorten it. Second Harvest’s Culinary Training Program has been doing just that for ten years.  

The Second Harvest Culinary Training Program is a continuing education opportunity offering adults facing barriers to employment the culinary and life skills training that will provide the foundation for a sustainable and successful career in the culinary industry. The 16-week program is free of charge