SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and No Kid Hungry Florida are teaming up for a second consecutive year to bring free, nutritious meals to children in rural communities during the summer months.
This year, the program has expanded beyond its Lake County roots to serve families in Seminole County.
On Tuesday, the groups distributed weekly grab-and-go food boxes to families who lined up at St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church in Sanford.
With one in six kids in Central Florida at risk of experiencing hunger on any given day, summer can be one of the most challenging times of year for families who rely on free or reduced-price meals during the school year. In rural communities, transportation, work schedules and distance to traditional summer meal providers can make access even harder.
Through this non-congregate meal-service model, caregivers are able to pick up boxes of food to take home during scheduled distribution times — eliminating the requirement for children to eat on-site.
Sky Beard, director of No Kid Hungry Florida, said the need for programs like this one is urgent.
“Right here in Central Florida, one in six kiddos is living in homes where that next meal is really not a guarantee,” Beard said. “Programs like this is critically important to be able to bridge the gap during the summer months to make sure they’re ready to go and have all they need.”
Each box contains seven days’ worth of breakfast and lunch options.
“Seven days of breakfast and lunch and they’re all nutritious and helpful to families during these difficult times of being able to provide groceries,” Beard said.
More than 200 families were served during the recent distribution, underscoring the demand for this type of program in the community. For residents like Cynthia Thompson, the program is making a real difference.
“I love this program. It’s for the kids and they give out nice things for the kids,” Thompson said. “It’s wonderful for everybody in the community and I really appreciate this.”
Thompson, who picks up boxes for her grandchildren, said the support goes beyond just food.
“It means a lot because we get a little bit of food stamps and it helps out a lot for my grandkids and helps out for me as well,” she said. “I really appreciate this. It’s a wonderful and blessed place and I thank God for it.”
State Rep. Rachel Plakon, who represents District 36 — where the Sanford distribution takes place — showed her support for the effort, calling it an example of government at its best.
“This is really the job that government should be doing,” Plakon said. “Helping people who are in crisis who need immediate relief.”
For more details about food assistance programs offered by Second Harvest Food Bank, click here.