A Tavares mother arrived early at the Lake County Fairgrounds for a mobile food distribution in September.
Victoria and her family recently moved from Texas. Moving, starting their business, and caring for their two young children, with another baby on the way, have made it hard to keep up with bills.
She saw a flyer for the mobile food distribution on social media and decided to go.
“It will help tremendously,” Victoria said. “We’ll be able to put more money towards bills that need to be paid and still be able to eat.”
She said the cost of living is high, and her family has had to make some tough choices.
“We won’t have to sacrifice other things for (food),” Victoria said. “Like when somebody doesn’t eat enough just so the little people can eat what they need to eat.”
The distribution was held during Hunger Action Month, an annual September campaign that unites neighbors, volunteers, and advocates to ensure kids, families and seniors have the food resources they need to thrive.
Lake Cares, a Second Harvest feeding partner, played its part by organizing a mobile distribution that provided enough food for more than 33,000 meals to 623 households.
“I’m proud of what our community accomplished, and I’m still struck by the need we saw,” said Kelsey Gonzalez, Lake Cares Executive Director.
The distribution was held during Publix Serves Week, the grocer’s annual community service initiative. More than 300 employees volunteered, sorting and bagging food and placing it in neighbors’ vehicles.
Neighbors received fresh produce – including potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, grapes, strawberries, carrots and more – fresh meat, milk, bread and shelf-stable staples like rice, beans, pasta and other canned goods.
This was the fifth year Lake Cares hosted the event with Publix. Kelsey said it was their largest yet and the first time they needed more than one truck of food.
The organization planned to serve 500 families that day, and the long line of cars made it clear to Kelsey that the need was unusually high. An additional Second Harvest truck arrived a few hours later to deliver more produce and shelf-stable items, and everyone in line was accommodated.
“I’m grateful we could respond, but those numbers show how many neighbors are struggling to put food on the table,” Kelsey said. “Hunger is something our neighbors face every day, and seeing volunteers, businesses, local agencies and families show up together reminds people they aren’t facing it alone,” she said.
Victoria said she is glad that people and organizations are taking action to increase food security for families like hers.
“I’m grateful that there are programs and things like this that help the community,” she said.
The groceries Victoria received will help ease the pressure on her family’s budget and get them through the week.
“When neighbors come together to offer help with kindness and dignity, that matters just as much as the food,” Kelsey said.
