Transportation is a leading barrier to Central Florida neighbors accessing food resources. Even with more than 800 feeding partners spread across seven counties, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida often hears from individuals that they do not have the means to get to the nearest food pantry.
Second Harvest created its Bring Hope Home food delivery program to provide meals for seniors, disabled neighbors, veterans and other homebound community members for whom visiting food pantries or mobile distributions is a barrier.
Thanks to community support, the program recently reached a major milestone by obtaining enough delivery vehicles to bring the entire operation in-house. The fleet includes eight vans equipped with refrigeration to allow food to be transported safely.
A team of six drivers helps deliver food to neighbors in six counties in Second Harvest’s service area: Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia.
Senior Director of Nutrition Brian Serra said this change gives Second Harvest greater control over the delivery process, allows for better management of resources and creates opportunities to direct more funding toward food and services rather than outsourcing delivery.
“Just as importantly, it allows us to provide a more personal and connected experience for our neighbors,” Brian added. “Our drivers are an extension of the food bank, and every delivery is an opportunity to build trust and remind someone that their community cares about them.”
Drivers deliver boxes filled with fresh produce and non-perishable foods to 1,200 neighbors enrolled in the program each month, a number that grew from 400 with the increase to the vehicle fleet. With the change, the boxes can now be delivered together instead of alternating every other week, allowing the neighbors to use the ingredients together.
“It helps neighbors make the most of the food they receive and prepare meals using a greater variety of ingredients,” Brian said.
In addition to homebound individuals, Bring Hope Home supports a maternal health initiative in partnership with Orlando Health, serving 450 expecting or new mothers. Patients receive foods to support this important stage of life, including whole grains, proteins, and no or low-salt and no or low-sugar items when possible. A QR code for a digital recipe book that focuses on healthier eating is also provided.
“We are expanding our reach and supporting patients during an important stage of life when access to nutritious food can make a meaningful difference,” Brian added.
Brandon Ly, Health Initiatives Systems and Logistics Specialist, said the maternal health initiative is actively growing and enrolling new patients.
“I am very proud of all the hard work my colleagues here Mercy Kitchen have put in to make this all happen,” Brandon said.
Neighbors who receive Bring Hope Home deliveries have shared how the program has impacted their lives.
Susan, a senior from Volusia County, said going to a food pantry is inaccessible for her because she cannot stand for longer than 10 minutes.
“(I am) partially disabled, and the delivery of groceries is wonderful,” she said.
When Janet receives her food delivery, she is excited to see what kind of fresh produce she received that week.
“I love the carrots!” she exclaimed. “They’re the big, farm-grown carrots you can’t get in the store. The produce box is my favorite.”
Other neighbors shared how receiving food relieves some pressure on their already tight budgets.
For Rita, food boxes are more than just helpful—they are essential for survival.
“If we didn’t have the boxes, some months we wouldn’t eat,” Rita said. She is retired, disabled and homebound, and she and her husband deal with ongoing health problems without reliable transportation.
Ultimately, the evolution of Bring Hope Home is to reach more neighbors like Rita, Janet and Susan and deliver food to support their immediate needs and overall wellbeing, Brian said.
“Bringing deliveries in-house has also helped us begin serving neighbors who were previously waiting for assistance,” he said. “It’s a great example of our teams coming together to find practical solutions that strengthen our programs while keeping our mission at the center of every decision.”
