Stories of Hope

Before they even see the food, the kids living at the Lisbon Motel in Kissimmee hear the truck horn honking and start shrieking, “Bettina! Bettina!”

For hundreds of families living in extended-stay motels along U.S. Highway 192 in Kissimmee, the Embrace of Celebration truck represents a lifeline, offering hope and relief. Each weekend, volunteers pack produce, non-perishable food, and essentials, delivering them directly to families facing hunger.

“They kind of depend on her coming here and bringing the food,” explains Rick, a snowbird from Michigan who volunteers alongside Bettina, the pantry director. Many families do not have reliable transportation to get where they need to go, so bringing the food pantry to them is a huge help.

Rick’s morning starts by joining a team of volunteers at a local church to sort and prepare food for distribution. Then it’s loaded on a truck and driven to motels, where it is unloaded and set up market-style for families to shop.

The operation began during the pandemic with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for neighbors experiencing homelessness. Now a feeding partner with Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Embrace of Celebration feeds over 10,000 people monthly.

“We do not want anyone going with food, especially kids,” says Bettina. “When you see the kids running to you, and everybody comes, and they are happy, it makes all of this worth it.”

At a recent distribution, Rick, Bettina, and motel resident Vanessa set up a courtyard market where neighbors could choose from fresh produce, canned goods, and other groceries, with grab-and-go bags also available.

“I’m pretty sure we’re all struggling financially, lost our homes or jobs,” says Vanessa, speaking about her community. “This place is kind of like our last resort.”

Vanessa and her kids were evicted from their rental home when their property was foreclosed on. She works in catering, which has not been steady lately.

“Sometimes you have to make a decision between paying one thing or paying another,” says Vanessa, who has lived in the motel for over a year, seeking stability.

Still, she finds ways to help out and support others.

“It's fulfilling, it's a blessing from God to be able to contribute a little bit,” says Vanessa. “To know that I have something to give, even if I’m also getting some help.”

Thanks to a caring community of donors, feeding partners, and volunteers, families living along Highway 192 and throughout Central Florida can access essential food, helping them thrive despite challenging circumstances.

“We could not do what we do, we could not support so many families without you, without Second Harvest,” says Bettina. “Families have hope for tomorrow and will be better because we cared for them today.”