Many parents and families encourage community service with their children and other family members to build connectedness and instill values.
They frequently say it demonstrates the importance of giving back and teaches generosity, gratitude, kindness and humility.
The Holliday-Bisbano family, spread across four different states, is united in their commitment to give back. Right now, they’re working together to “outrun” hunger in Central Florida.
Six family members are signed up to participate in the 2024 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon weekend and have created a Virtual Food Drive to raise money to fight local hunger relief efforts through Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.
Second Harvest’s Virtual Food Drive is a web-based tool that allows individuals and organizations to hold an online food drive. Every $10 raised provides 40 meals for local kids, families and seniors facing hunger.
Anyone can host a Virtual Food Drive. You can register as an individual or start your own team with multiple participants. Drives can be customized to meet the needs of an organization, church group, family, or person.
Denise, the organizer of the family’s fundraiser, said it will motivate her kids more during the race. Her sister, three daughters and one of their boyfriends are joining Denise from Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wisconsin and Nebraska, and helping promote their food drive.
“You always want to inspire good with anything you do,” Denise said. “I think this will help my kids in running the race. There’s also a competitive spirit in the fundraising spirit. (Supporting a cause) gives more purpose to the run.”
Their virtual food drive ( 2024 Disney Wine & Dine: Holliday – Bisbano) has a goal of $750, which would provide about 3,000 meals to local people facing food insecurity.
She said three of them will be participating in the 5k, one will be doing the 10k and two others will be doing half marathons.
“They’re pushing themselves,” she said.
Denise and her sister, Beth, will walk to accommodate Beth’s knee issues.
“We will walk and enjoy all the sights and people,” she said.
Denise’s daughter Sadie is currently living in Columbus, Nebraska, on a medical-field rotational stationing, and Sadie said she is very health-focused and community-minded.
“Being in the medical field, I have always been focused on health and helping other people receive the best care,” Sadie said. “It’s a unique opportunity to see these aspects come together in raising awareness for this Food Bank while getting to do something I enjoy for my health, as well.”
Starting a virtual food drive is another way the family can do something together for the good of the community without necessarily being together physically, Sadie said.
“Plus, it’s a great way to use this event to spotlight food disparities in the region!” she said.
Sadie’s sister Sarah works in medical IT in Madison, Wisconsin, but the Second Harvest name is familiar to her because there is another Second Harvest near her.
“The company I work for is a huge supporter of them. I’ve frequently participated in their annual supply/donation drive with proceeds going to Second Harvest and other local charities,” Sarah explained.
For Sarah, putting meals on family tables is her motivation behind the food drive.
“Some of my fondest memories of friends and family are trying a new scone recipe together, shelling crabs on the Atlantic coast, sitting at the kids’ table for the family Thanksgiving meal,” she said. “Sharing a meal is a powerful and communal gesture. I hope each gift from Second Harvest can convey that sense of community, as well as hunger relief.”
Savannah, the third sister, and her boyfriend, Michael, will travel from Richmond, Virginia, for the race.
“We feel grateful to be in the position that we can support those who may be food insecure,” they said. “We do not take our situation for granted and want to help others who may not know where their next meal is coming from.”
Denise said when her daughters were in school, they delivered meals to seniors and homebound neighbors.
“(They) got to see the people who benefit from the food pantry or other meal programs,” Denise said. “It instilled humility for the kids.”
For Denise, this trip and fundraiser hold a special significance. “To get everyone together in one space is phenomenal in itself,” Denise said. “To do this as a family and go to the parks, it’s a package deal. Central Florida is my second home. My parents lived there. I went to college there. It hits home for me to give back.”
