Across the country, families are feeling the pressure of rising food costs and tight budgets. That’s why this Hunger Action Month, as part of the Feeding America network, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, is reminding the community that it takes all kinds of people and actions coming together to fight hunger.
The annual September campaign unites neighbors, volunteers, and advocates to ensure kids, families and seniors have the food resources they need to thrive.
Each role is an important piece of the solution. Every action makes an impact for neighbors facing hunger, and everyone can play a part to help end hunger during Hunger Action Month, whether it is hosting an event, creating a fundraiser, or joining the Young Professionals Committee.
Meet the Hunger Fighters and Their Methods
Betsy and Jon grew up, raised their children and started their business, Track Shack, in Central Florida.
It is important to them that the proceeds from Track Shack running events support and give back to their community. Their biggest fundraiser for Second Harvest has been the Advent Health Corporate 5k. Since 2016, Betsy and Jon have donated enough to provide just over 1 million meals with event proceeds.
“Our various run/walk events create an awareness of need in our community, so the beneficiary is very important to us and to our runners to both help and enhance our Central Florida community,” Betsy said.
Alana chose to participate in the Summer Hope Challenge, a peer-to-peer fundraiser that community members shared with their own networks to raise funds to combat summer hunger.
She said the online fundraiser was an easy and accessible way for her to share with others about the food bank’s mission, but it was because the support was for children that the opportunity really resonated.
“To say hunger is important to me would be an understatement,” Alana said. “My life began with hunger. I spent my earliest years in Guatemala experiencing severe malnutrition before I was adopted into the United States at the age of three.”
Adam found his calling to the Second Harvest Young Professionals Committee during his very first volunteer shift at the food bank, where he saw a flyer inviting new members to the group.
“I reached out and attended my first meeting, which included a full tour of the facility,” he recalled. “I was blown away by the impact young professionals were making across the organization – not just showing up to pack boxes but actively driving awareness. I knew I wanted to be part of this!”
That led Adam to join the executive board, where he helped shape the Communications Chair role. Today, he serves as the Networking Chair, focusing on bringing even more passionate young professionals together across Orlando. His involvement also led him to the Ultimate Garden Party, the food bank’s signature annual fundraising event, for which he serves on the planning committee.
“For our Young Professionals Committee, our goal is simple: connect Central Florida’s emerging leaders while supporting Second Harvest’s life-changing mission,” Adam explained.
Why Take Action to Fight Hunger?
Adam said he was inspired by the dedication and sincerity of the people fighting hunger at Second Harvest.
“Big challenges require dedicated people working from multiple angles to truly move the needle,” Adam said. “For me, the motivation to keep showing up comes directly from the extraordinary individuals I’ve met through the food bank. Working alongside leaders and peers who pour their hearts into this mission continually inspires me. Their energy and commitment are an inspiration.”
Betsy and Jon count themselves as fortunate to have not experienced hunger but are aware of the level of food insecurity among their neighbors.
When their children were in elementary school, the family performed community service activities together. A frequent way of giving back was serving meals through their church to neighbors experiencing homelessness.
“We discovered the very first time we were actually serving some of (their children’s) classmates and their families from Fern Creek Elementary,” Betsy recalled. “That was an eye opener for Jon and me.”
Alana started her fundraiser because the fight against childhood hunger is personal.
Before she was adopted by a single mother who helped her heal and thrive, Alana experienced hunger and malnutrition as a child that has had lasting effects on her life. Inspired by her mother and her experience with food insecurity, she is determined to prevent that for other children.
“I know how hunger affected my life,” Alana said. “This is one small way I can help make sure someone has a meal when they need it. Every human deserves the very best chance to grow into who they were always meant to be.”
Encouraging Others to Act
For Alana, the first step others should take is learning about hunger in their community, which she believes will lead them to act.
“Hunger is not an individual failure but a crisis that asks something of all of us,” she explained. “Let that reality move you to give, volunteer, and speak up for our neighbors in the rooms where their voice might be absent – not only to meet today’s need, but also to build a future in which that need is no longer inevitable.”
Betsy and Jon take that a step further and encourage all their race team captains to take a tour of Second Harvest to understand how the food bank makes a difference in the community.
“Sometimes it’s hard to see outside our everyday box, but there is much need right here in Orlando,” Betsy said. “We encourage everyone to educate themselves and their friends about the scope of all Second Harvest Food Bank does. Then they will definitely take action!”
Adam says there is no better time to act than today.
“Our neighbors don’t just need resources,” he explained. “They need advocates who bring fresh ideas, boundless passion, and a genuine commitment to lifting others up. The authentic relationships we’re building — connecting good people with a great cause — are ultimately what builds a stronger Central Florida community.”
