Food Fuels Learning at Kids Cafes

The first thing the kids who attend Club Esteem do when they get there every afternoon is grab their meal.

“It’s just like when they’re at home and coming home from school,” said Ellena Little, Director of Club Esteem. “The first thing is, ‘I’m hungry; I want a snack.’”

Club Esteem is an after-school program in Melbourne where about 90 kids from kindergarten through 8th grade come for activities and tutoring. It’s a Second Harvest Kids Café site, and the food bank provides all the after-school meals.

Coming Together to Feed More Hope

Individuals and organizations showed an outpouring of support and action to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida during Hunger Action Month this September, including an incredibly impactful contribution from Winn-Dixie.   

Winn-Dixie, in celebration of its 100th anniversary and in support of Hunger Action Month, made a significant contribution. The grocer’s donation of a semi-truck full of food and the volunteer efforts of 20 employees were instrumental in sorting, packing, and distributing food to over 2,225 neighbors in 700 households on Sept. 11 at Patmos Chapel in Apopka.   

Neighbors received fresh produce, canned goods, non-perishable foods and more from the Winn-Dixie crew. They also received additional items, including meat and bakery products, from a Second Harvest truckload that volunteers from the church put into cars.

Second Harvest Partners with Lake Sumter State College to Reduce Food Insecurity Among College Students 

The necessity of food for learning has no age limit.  

Students of all ages need nourishment and nutrition for their brains to perform their best and for their bodies to stay in optimal physical and mental health.  

Lake Sumter State College administrators wanted to remove food insecurity as a potential barrier to student success. Recently, the college opened Lakehawk Harvest in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida’s School Partnerships program.   

“College is not just about academics, it’s about creating an environment where students feel supported and can be successful,” Dr. Laura Byrd, Interim President of LSSC, said at the opening ceremony. “This pantry is a tangible investment in our students’ wellbeing and success. By removing barriers like hunger, we are allowing students to focus more fully on their studies and their futures.”

School Partnerships Prepare for New School Year

Second Harvest’s School Partnerships Program, a resource for food assistance outside of traditional school meals, collaborates with community organizations, educators, student leaders, and families to build a future where every student feels empowered, valued, and well-fed. Often students take the lead in running the market, fostering a sense of pride, and reducing stigma.