Despite a strong economy, promising outlook, and growing population, Florida continues to wrestle with a hunger crisis that will affect one in eight people – and one in five children – at some point this year.
It’s a serious problem that Florida’s lawmakers and nonprofits are rallying to solve – and recently, we took an important step toward that goal. This spring, the Florida House of Representatives gathered to allocate our state’s funding to new programs for the coming year – including a $2.9 million request for support from Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida called the Food Cost Mitigation Project.
A portion of that request – $561,776 – was successfully allocated. Combined with a 25% match from our own budget, this critical funding will allow Second Harvest to keep up with the rising cost of our mission and continue serving our neighbors. Every dollar translates to approximately four meals delivered to seniors, nutritious lunches for growing kids, or home-cooked dinners made from grocery boxes packed with care by our volunteers.
Stubborn inflation over the last few years continues to hit hardworking families’ budgets, forcing them to make difficult decisions about expenses. Food banks aren’t exempt from rising prices either. Every cost – including transportation, storage, infrastructure and, above all, food – affects how many meals we can distribute to people facing hunger.
Although most of the food that Second Harvest distributes is given by generous local businesses and partners, we can’t fully serve the community using donations alone. Not because there aren’t enough, but because donation-friendly foods (such as long-lasting, shelf-stable canned and dry goods) are only part of what’s important for a balanced meal.
That’s where purchasing power makes a big difference. At Second Harvest, we work directly with Florida farmers to source locally grown fruits and vegetables to stock the shelves at pantries – an amount that added up to 5.2 million pounds in the last year alone. Not only does that strategy allow us to provide healthier food to families seeking charitable food assistance, but it also supports local agriculture and bolsters the economy.
By supporting this request to fund the Food Cost Mitigation Project, lawmakers in both the House and Senate have shown that they care about making life better for the Floridians they represent. We owe special thanks to State Representative Susan Plasencia and State Senator Dennis Baxley, who championed the Food Cost Mitigation Project from the outset, and to all elected officials on both sides of the aisle who helped bring our request to the budget. When we stand united, we can feed health and opportunity in our state for years to come.
Hunger can be solved, and initiatives like the Food Cost Mitigation Project are a step toward reaching that goal. But more work needs to be done to ensure every Floridian has the food they need to thrive. Whether through impactful policies and funding decisions, hands-on volunteer efforts or monthly financial pledges, every member of our community has the power to change lives.
Stephanie Palacios
Director of Advocacy and Government Relations
This guest column originally appeared in The Orlando Sentinel on June 18, 2024.
