42,000 volunteers. 127,000 hours of community service. Tens of millions of meals. Often, the conversation about food insecurity is couched in grim statistics … but in honor of Hunger Action Month this September, I want to celebrate the bright side of the fight against hunger—and that starts, as it always has, with people.
Folks like J. J. Lullen, who launched an annual food drive more than a decade ago and continues to provide more than 11,000 meals for neighbors. Young people like Cooper Boris, the former market manager of Edgewater High’s School Market, who helped distribute more than 10,000 meals to his classmates during the 2024-2025 academic year. Volunteer captains like Al Delio, who has clocked more than 5,600 volunteer hours at Second Harvest over the past decade.
We’re only nine months into 2025, but it’s safe to say this year brought tremendous upheaval to the field of hunger relief. In navigating those changes, nonprofits like Second Harvest had to rely on the support of our community with greater urgency – and when we sent out the call for help in the spring, Central Florida’s everyday heroes answered without hesitation.
That’s not a surprise: Our community has always been one that comes together in difficult circumstances. Whether it’s a hurricane or a hunger relief crisis, we see time and time again that neighbors look out for one another and step up to lend a hand. It’s part of our culture. And it’s what enables Second Harvest to continue distributing enough food for 300,000 meals a day.
In the months ahead, we’ll be counting on that support more than ever. As trade uncertainty compounds inflation, surveys show that more than half of American adults are stressed about high prices in the grocery checkout lane. As long as costs remain unpredictable, many families – locally and nationwide – will find themselves dipping into savings, missing meals, or resorting to debt to make ends meet.
Some will turn to food banks for help. But those who do will find longer lines and less food, as spending cuts in federal SNAP benefits compound the burden on community-based nonprofits. Although SNAP offers only a small safety net (just over $6 per person per day, the vast majority of which benefits children and working adults) – it’s a critical and cost-effective lifeline. Without that support, the hunger gap grows much, much bigger … and food banks don’t have the resources to bridge it alone.
But there is hope, and—at this critical moment—it lies in our community. That’s why I’m here to say thank you to everyone who’s stepped up to fight hunger with us this year… and, even more importantly, thank you for keeping that momentum going strong in the months ahead.
When you support hunger relief, the difference you make is measured in the lives you change: in healthy groceries for growing kids; in holiday meals for families having a difficult year; in emergency assistance for hardworking neighbors who need a little support to make it through a rough patch.
Now is the time to find out what action you can take to end hunger in Central Florida. Visit FeedHopeNow.org to sign up as a volunteer, start a virtual food drive, or provide a meal for someone who needs it – and spread hope and lasting change, one step at a time.
This guest column originally appeared in The Orlando Sentinel on August 31, 2025.
