This Veterans Day, Second Harvest recognizes and amplifies the voices of individuals connected to the food bank who have served our country and advocate for veterans and military families.
The reality is that in the fight against hunger, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida provides food resources to Central Florida veterans and military families facing food insecurity and works toward connecting them to the resources and benefits they need to thrive.
Denise
Denise is Second Harvest’s Program Manager and Community Liaison. In this position, she supports neighbors across Central Florida, including veterans, who are near and dear to her heart.
All seven of Denise’s brothers served in the military, spanning every branch of service. It was her encouragement that led them down that path.
“I knew it was a good path as a next step out of high school to self-sufficiency and independence,” she said. “Most of them made a career out of it and thank me today.”
Second Harvest supports around 500 veterans through the Bites, Camera, Action program by delivering food to them monthly in the communities where they live.
Denise said it started when a woman came to the food bank asking about food programs for veterans. There was a group of 25 veterans experiencing food insecurity and living in an apartment complex with limited access to transportation.
A Second Harvest truck now delivers food to veterans living in 11 apartment communities every month.
Through her work at the food bank, Denise has formed relationships with other community organizations, which she connects with veterans to help them access resources and benefits beyond food.
“Food connects them to everything,” Denise said.
Augie
Augie served 22 years in the U.S. military and received help from many soldiers during those years. He now works for Veterans Affairs connecting veterans to community resources.
This position built his connection with Second Harvest, through which he helps those who have served to obtain food resources.
“It’s a gratification for me to have been able to help fellow veterans with the services and benefits we all deserve,” he said. “Working at the VA has helped me to reach out to all veterans from all services and provide that brotherhood I encountered during my military service.”
He said he knows of many veterans who have used Second Harvest’s Food Finder, which provides locations, hours and contact information for nearby feeding partners.
Augie said the rising price of groceries has affected everyone, but especially those with low or no income like some veterans in the Central Florida community. Others receive SNAP benefits, which do not go as far as they used to.
“I’ve seen the increase of prices, and the decrease of food for the amount of money paid,” he said. “It’s hard for everyone, including those of us having a little better comfortable income.”
And yet, Augie remains hopeful that by working together to provide much-needed resources, all our neighbors, including veterans, can access the food they need.
“With the food assistance provided by the collaboration of Second Harvest (Bites, Camera, Action food boxes and Bring Hope Home programs), it’s possible to alleviate hunger,” said Augie.
