Fighting Summer Hunger Takes Many Forms

Hunger doesn’t take a summer break, and neither do the people who fight it.

All summer long, people connected to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida – employees, volunteers, donors, supporters and community partners – all have been working to make sure local kids have healthy, nutritious meals while school is out.

These are a few of the voices telling the story of how they are fighting hunger this summer, meeting the moment and filling the gaps left from kids missing school-provided breakfasts and lunches.

Fighting Summer Hunger With Better Rural Access

Summer BreakSpot sites serve up no-cost meals for kids and teens every weekday while school is out.

However, the traditional model of free meals for kids aged 18 and under that are served and eaten onsite twice a day doesn’t work for every family. Sometimes kids are at home instead of in a summer childcare program, or transportation to a feeding site twice a day is not manageable.

With one in six Central Florida kids facing hunger, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida opted to participate in a rural non-congregate feeding pilot program this summer. The program utilizes mobile distributions to reach children without access to traditional sites.

Culinary Arts are a Tool in the Fight Against Hunger

The Culinary Arts are essential in fighting hunger and feeding hope at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.
In multiple ways, the food bank’s programs heavily involve culinary work, emphasize the importance of good nutrition and demonstrate building community through food.
The Food Bank’s Culinary Training, Medically Tailored Meals and childhood hunger programs, along with Plate Above Catering all contribute to supporting neighbors facing hunger.

Nutritious Pantry Network Expands to Bring Healthy Food Closer to Neighbors

Residents of Paisley have to travel ten miles in either direction to get to a grocery store.

Access to food, especially nutritious and fresh food, is limited in the small east Lake County community that is considered a food desert.

Impact Paisley food pantry leaders, with the support of the community, are trying to change that by joining Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida’s Nutritious Pantry Network. The feeding partner was one of five to recently earn the designation of Certified Nutritious Pantry, bringing the total to 14.