Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) helped ease the burden of hunger for families this holiday season with their annual food distribution event. The 13th annual holiday food distribution event provided 3,400 families with enough food to provide 156,526 meals over the upcoming winter break.
Volunteers spread out around bus loops and school parking lots at nine different schools across Orange County to help load food into the trunk of each car in line. Each family received a turkey and a fresh produce box filled with cabbage, carrots, potatoes and onions. A bag of pantry essentials like peanut butter, tuna, shelf-stable milk, cereal, and red beans and rice helped provide items to build complete meals that families can enjoy together this holiday season.
As a result of inflation, recent hurricanes and ongoing pandemic impacts, one in eight Central Floridians and one in five children are at greater risk of experiencing hunger. As students head home for the two-week winter break, they leave behind homework, exams, and critical school-provided meals, making food even more urgent during the holiday season.
For nearly two hours, cars snaked through school parking lots. Grateful families waved through the windows, smiled, and thanked the volunteers. The teens helping load food into vehicles were proud of their ability to share hope and food with their community. As you’ll see in the video below, a few even sang carols to people in their cars.
Thank you for spreading hope and cheer in the form of meals this holiday season.
1 in 5 Central Florida kids is facing hunger this holiday season.
Your $10 gift can provide 40 meals and hope.
