Each day across Central Florida, neighbors reach out for help with food assistance. Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida's online food finder tool helps identify nearby nonprofit feeding partners for neighbors in seven counties. In Brevard, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties, neighbors can access any of Second Harvest's 625 partner locations to pick up groceries, enjoy prepared meals and find support.
One of those partners is Serenity's Grace, primarily serving neighbors in Parramore, a neighborhood just west of downtown Orlando. When she was seven years old, Serenity dreamed of a food pantry that would give away food to people with dignity and love. Today, Koko, Serenity's grandmother, runs the food pantry with the help of volunteers and food supplied by Second Harvest.
WESH 2 News recently visited the pantry to show its operations and impact.
Koko fervently believes that no one should face hunger, but it is a reality that too many of her neighbors experience.
“It's a very hard-hit community when you have to listen to your neighbor say, ‘I can't pay my light bill because I want to eat,' or ‘I got to buy medicine, so I can't eat,'” explains Koko.
These sentiments do not detour Koko and her volunteers. Instead, it motivates them to do more for their community.
“I reached out for help, and they are just amazing,” raves Lisa. Lisa knows what it is like to be behind the scenes stocking shelves at the pantry and in the receiving line.
“I wasn't making it day by day. I had no clue how I was going to make it,” Lisa recalls. Lisa receives a disability check each month and within two days, she spends it on rent, phone and utilities.
She found relief inside the pantry, which resembles a pop-up market. Instead of receiving a pre-packed box of food, Lisa selects items from different sections, including nonperishable items, fresh produce, meat, dairy, bread and pastries. She picks the items that best fit her diet.
“I don't think they realize how many people they help, what all they've done to help,” says Lisa.
Your support helps connect people to emergency food pantries, stocks pantry shelves and provides hope when neighbors like Lisa need it most.
Provide hope when your neighbors need it most.
$10 = 40 meals.
