Isa tries not to imagine what life would be like without food assistance.
“It would be tough,” she said. “I would have to stop (paying for another) thing to sustain the food that I give to everyone on the table.”
Isa, a mother of three from Orlando, regularly visits Jewish Family Services for help with food, diapers, and other essentials. Over the past two years, she has turned to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida feeding partner whenever her family needed extra support. Lately, she has needed help more often.
“It does help a lot because food prices have gone up,” Isa explained. “Even if it’s just the milk or the bread, it does help alleviate the things we need to buy. It brings down the cost tremendously and benefits everyone.”
During a recent visit, Isa received eggs, bread, diapers, and shelf-stable staples like pasta, beans and cereal.
One in every seven Central Florida neighbors faces food insecurity, and Jewish Family Services has experienced a significant increase in the need for food.
“Last year, we distributed more food than we ever have,” said Heather Petrusky, the Assistant Director at JFS.
In 2025, the organization provided enough food for 425,000 meals to 7,100 families, helping 20,517 people.
“You get so many stories,” Heather said, adding, “It’s everything. It’s from ‘I lost my job’ to ‘I’m leaving an abusive relationship’ to ‘prices are so high.’”
She also mentioned that many people with chronic illnesses rely on the food pantry for fresh produce and canned goods.
In addition to the wide array of circumstances, the neighbors seeking food assistance are of all ages, including young adults, families with young children and lots of seniors.
“For our food recipients, we hope their food crisis is alleviated, at least for the time being,” Heather said. “It might not be a permanent solution, but at least that week they are putting food on the tables for their families. Nobody is going hungry, and they have a dignified experience when they are here.”
As the cost of food and other essentials keeps rising, Second Harvest and its partners remain a lifeline for people facing hunger.
Your Support Feeds Families Experiencing Food Insecurity.
Every $1 Donated Provides Four Meals
