Elsie fights hunger by volunteering at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida’s Mercy Kitchen, a production kitchen where volunteers pack meals for neighbors facing hunger.
As a school counselor, Elsie saw the need in the community firsthand. A large percentage of the students and families she worked with lived below the federal poverty line. When she retired, she knew she had to do something to help.
“There shouldn’t be people hungry in this world,” says Elsie with conviction.
She began volunteering once a week at Second Harvest, carefully portioning meals for kids on the assembly line or lovingly packing pantry staples into a box for a family facing hunger. She instantly fell in love with being a part of a team of people taking care of their neighbors.
“I get to meet very good people because the people that volunteer here are excellent people, and the people that work here too,” Elsie says. “It keeps me involved and doing something for other people.”
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There shouldn’t be people hungry in this world”
– Elsie
Elsie receives personal satisfaction from her efforts, seeing people facing hunger receive support from the donors, volunteers and advocates at Second Harvest.
“It’s the biggest place, the place that feeds the most people in Orlando, so I think it is the place to be,” Elsie says.
Second Harvest welcomes individuals like Elsie, as well as corporate teams, school groups, civic organizations and more to lend a hand in the fight against hunger.
