Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate the resilience, contributions, and accomplishments of women in our community. This March, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida will highlight several women on a mission to make a difference for their neighbors facing hunger.
Terri always wanted to get involved with hunger relief efforts. She waited for the right opportunity to combine her passion and vocation.
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I wanted to see where my culinary skills could help,” Terri explains.
She joined Second Harvest last year as a team member at Mercy Kitchen. The production kitchen is two miles north of the main warehouse and is where food bank staff and volunteers pack meals for kids, seniors and other individuals facing hunger. It is also home to a Medically Tailored Meals pilot program that aims to help people facing food insecurity and managing at least one severe illness improve their health outcomes through food.
In her role, Terri specializes in crafting recipes and cooking meals for people enrolled in the Medically Tailored Meals program. She enjoys the challenge and creativity of making familiar and comforting recipes for patients specific to their unique dietary needs.
“I am focusing on the ingredients I can use instead of what I can’t,” Terri says, focusing on the positive. “And they still have to taste good.”
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It’s about redirecting your tastebuds to be a little bit healthier,” Terri says.
She is working on adapting recipes for classic dishes, like mac and cheese, and crafting desserts, like red velvet cake flavored with beets.
Terri is one of many people driven to fight hunger in Central Florida.
