SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida are asking Florida lawmakers to their Food Cost Mitigation Program.

As we near the holiday season, organizations like the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and their partner agencies are preparing to feed people for Thanksgiving.

With the possibility of a government shutdown happening, local non-profits have been preparing for an additional strain from families who receive food support through federal programs.

Volunteers with the Wawa Foundation were out of the office and instead were working hard to build more than a dozen metal carts at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

Ahead of the 2023 U.S. Farm Bill vote, congressional leaders and local organizations came together for a roundtable to discuss the importance of the bill’s passing.

Students at this Central Florida school district will receive free meals all year, district officials said on Monday.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, Central Florida organizations said people are still having a hard time getting back on their feet for a number of reasons.

Volunteers can sign up for shifts with Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida to help

Broccoli cauliflower and curry lentil soup were just some of the foods that were packaged on Thursday at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

Cassie and Sabrina Glow are Glow Girls Kid Voiceovers. You may have heard them in commercials, animated movies or even talking toys. But they’re also using their voices to help stamp out food insecurity.

Hundreds of people lined up early Wednesday morning at Christ For All Nations Church for a food giveaway with Second Harvest and One Heart.

January's inflation report came in higher than economists predicted and higher than the previous month's report.

The Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, along with charity organization Serenity’s Grace, are getting results for families who are struggling to put food on the table.

Orange County Public Schools and Second Harvest Food Bank teamed up Saturday to make sure students and their families would have food during the two-week winter break.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida said it has seen a double-digit percentage increase in the number of people searching for food banks in our area.

Groups are coming together to help storm victims. Here are places offering assistance right now. We will update this list as we get more information.

Ever since Wendy Wing found out about Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, she said it's been rewarding to get results in her community.

Food will be distributed to nearly 50 food pantries across Seminole County, including the pantry at East Coast Believers Church in Oviedo.

Consumers and businesses are feeling the pinch of high prices, including Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida received $775,000 in federal funding for one of its training programs.

The Second Harvest Food Bank received nearly $26,000 in donations at the Volusia County council meeting, according to the county.

Second Harvest Food Bank has been busy across Central Florida since the pandemic started getting food into the hands of those in need.

The Simply IOA Corporate 5K, presented by Track Shack, brought out hundreds of people from around Central Florida Thursday.

A caravan with more than 6,600 pounds of food will soon be getting results in the fight against Central Florida's hunger situation.

This year's theme for Black History Month is a focus on the importance of health and wellness within African American communities.

This wek's Award Winner, Gavin Sisk, has dedicated his time to volunteering at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

Orange County and the city of Orlando honored Walt Disney World for its efforts in the Central Florida community on Friday.

Area nonprofits say thousands of people in Central Florida are in danger of going to bed hungry.

Kyle Larson stepped out of the spotlight during last year’s NASCAR suspension and quietly turned his attention to charitable efforts for communities in need.

This Friday, Second Harvest Food Bank is teaming up with Daytona Beach Police, the Dream Center and other local organizations to distribute food to hundreds in need.

Orlando Dream Center is partnering with McCraney Property Company and Second Harvest Food Bank for a drive-thru food distribution in Ocoee.

Health officials teamed up with Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida to get results for the community in Seminole County.

Executives with Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, the nonprofit running the production kitchen, says they’re going to use the facility to help more families in need. At the height of the pandemic, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida distributed about 300,000 meals a day through its other facilities. Orange County delegated $8M of its CARES Act funding to Second Harvest Food Bank. It wasn’t a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the new space, but an unboxing of the different packages Second Harvest Food Bank provides to children and families. Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is a nonprofit organization.

One of the organizations selected was Orlando’s Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Officials baked and donated “brewers bread” to an area food bank when food scarcity concerns began to rise. “We are so grateful to Guinness for their incredibly generous donation to feed those who are facing hunger in Central Florida. Their support locally will provide over 200,000 meals to help children, families, seniors put food on their table in the coming weeks,” a Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida spokesperson said. Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida has a number of ways you can help, including making a financial donation, volunteering or organizing a food and fun drive.

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. – Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida handed out hundreds of pounds of food in Altamonte Springs on Wednesday by using a brand-new refrigerated truck donated by Darden Restaurants. The truck was donated in January and on Wednesday, it made its first delivery. [WATCH: Darden Restaurants donates mobile pantry to Second Harvest Food Bank]Cars lined up as early as 6 a.m. outside the Apostolic Church of Jesus. Second Harvest Food Bank handed out 96 million meals throughout Central Florida within the last year. Works said the new truck will help them get even more food out to the community.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida was one of five food banks across the country to receive a new mobile food pantry from Darden Restaurants. Officials with Second Harvest and Darden unveiled the new refrigerated box truck on Wednesday. The other food banks that also received a mobile food pantry are Feeding the Valley Food Bank in Midland, Georgia, Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana in Shreveport, Louisiana, Mid-South Food Bank in Memphis, Tennessee and San Antonio Food Bank in San Antonio, Texas. Krepcho said Second Harvest will use the mobile food pantry to target areas with high levels of food insecurity, including communities of color. Click here if you would like to donate to Second Harvest.

APOPKA, Fla. – Hundreds of families struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic lined up at Apopka High School Saturday morning to receive free meals. “A blessing, a blessing, a blessing. I’ll be glad to eat food tonight and sit at the table with my neighbors and have a good meal,” Garrison said. State Senator Randolph Bracy and Apopka High School’s PTSA teamed up with Farm Share to hold the event. Tre Wade, Apopka High School’s PTSA president, said the community is hurting.

The church purchases the food from Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and hosts distribution events. People who are furloughed and laid off, that’s on top of people that needed help before the pandemic,” chief development officer of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida Greg Higgerson said. After hearing about the burglary in DeLand, Second Harvest Food Bank is getting results, replacing more than 2,000 pounds of meat that was stolen or damaged. They said monetary donations are best because they can buy food in bulk from Second Harvest Food Bank at discounted prices. To donate, call the church at 386-736-7100 or call Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida at 407-295-1066.

Five-hundred dollars worth of food was stolen from the DeLand Open Bible Church Ministry Center, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. DeLAND, Fla. – Meat and steaks valued at $500 were stolen from the food pantry at DeLand Open Bible Church Ministry Center, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office said someone broke into the church’s food pantry on Spring Garden Avenue last week. Deputies said the burglar or burglars went through the pantry and tossed food on the floor and stole steaks and other various meats from the refrigerators. Deputies said anyone interested in donating to the church or the Second Harvest Food Bank can call the church at 386-736-7100 or the food bank at 407-295-1066.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Hundreds of boxes were packed with food and rolled out to help feed kids in Central Florida. Friday’s packing and distribution event is part of Orange County’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. pre-day of service event with Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. King was all about service to man kind so this is what this initiative is doing,” said Demings. Volunteers packed 35,000 meals that will be distributed throughout Central Florida to kids who are getting assistance through the Head Start program. With CARES ACT funding, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida has been able to expand its outreach and increase production to help families in need.

Food goes out as quickly as it comes in at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida warehouse. Greg Higgerson with Second Harvest said since the beginning of the pandemic, they have delivered thousands of meals a day to their partner food pantries. “We are optimistic that those people who can help will continue to help,” Higgerson said. Click here if you would like to donate to Second Harvest Food Bank. Higgerson said the food bank can turn every $1 donated into four meals.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Monday night’s deal reached in Congress for a new stimulus package will be showing some strong support for small business owners and for nonprofit organizations. Funding from the new round of COVID-19 relief will go toward small businesses, including minority-owned businesses, nonprofits, and food assistance programs to help them recover from the pandemic. “In that package, there is some funding for food assistance programs, much like SNAP, which is formerly known as food stamps. Essentially, what happens in the bill is that they’ve allocated $13 billion for SNAP and other food assistance programs.”According to the organization, the current bill would provide them funding through the SNAP federal food assistance program. The much-anticipated federal relief funding also includes $15 billions to help independent movie theaters, cultural institutions and live venues like the Amway Center and Camping World Stadium, which weren’t included in the first round of COVID-19 relief funding.

Food insecurity has risen significantly around the country after the coronavirus pandemic caused millions of Americans to lose their jobs. Non-profits, like Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, have been doing what they can to help people in need of food, but the supply is beginning to stretch thin. “In the first quarter of 2021, we may face a massive food cliff in terms of supply,” Krepcho said. “We don’t know how long the community can continue to support us.”If you’d like to donate to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, just head to FeedHopeNow.org. Click or tap here to see other interviews and discussions.

The Thanksgiving season has kicked off at Second Harvest Food Bank as 1,000 frozen turkeys were distributed throughout the community. “This comes just in time for Thanksgiving for a lot of families that are struggling in these economic times,” Second Harvest Food Bank Chief Development Officer Greg Higgerson said. “It’s going to be a big, big help,” Higgerson said. As many as 40% of the people who need help with food right now are looking for food for the first time in their lives,” Higgerson said. In addition to the frozen turkeys, Second Harvest also donated other food items to help complete Thanksgiving meals.

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Hundreds of Disney cast members and families struggling to make ends meet during the coronavirus pandemic received free meals on Friday after Disney bloggers raised thousands of dollars in a virtual food drive. The Disney Tourist Blog teamed up with Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida to hold the virtual fundraiser. The blog launched the virtual food drive to help thousands of cast members who were furloughed or laid off. Spence said donations for this virtual food drive came from all over the country. Click here to donate to the Disney Tourist Blog virtual food drive.

In Florida, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, provides food to more than 550 food banks across Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties. In 1992, he decided to join a local food bank. Today, 28 years after starting his journey to help others, he’s the Director of Operations for Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. No matter what it is.”Since the start of the pandemic, Second Harvest Food Bank has distributed about 41 million meals in almost 7 months. “I see a lot of folks out there where they’re in need and by me being in here I could do something to help,” Robledo, a father of two, said.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – In just the past few weeks, some big names in Central Florida announced major layoffs, which puts a new pinch on area drive-thru food pantries. Greg Higgerson serves as the chief development officer at Second Harvest Food Bank, where they’re still handing out around 300,000 meals a day, which is about double their pre-pandemic workload. [TRENDING: DeSantis to lift restaurant limits in Fla. | Here’s how to track your mail-in ballot | How can I tell difference between flu and COVID-19?] “It’s the line of cars that tell us the real story out there,” he said. “It will be felt for a long time after the disease is taken care of.”A Coronavirus Disaster Relief account has been set up at Second Harvest Food Bank and you can donate here.

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a massive need for food assistance in Central Florida. It was a similar scene in Osceola County, where Advance Senior Center and Second Harvest Food Bank hosted a drive-thru food pantry. Since mid-March, Second Harvest Food Bank has provided 22 million meals and a new study shows they are seeing nearly 50% more people in Central Florida who are hungry. Erika Spence and Second Harvest Food Bank helped give out around 500 meals at the event. To donate to Second Harvest Food Bank, click here.

It has forced millions of furloughs and lay offs across the state, forcing people onto unemployment, unable to make ends meet. Second Harvest Food Bank is working to help bridge the gap for those people. The food bank is seeing roughly double the amount the families it would normally help. News 6 spoke with Dave Krepcho, the president and CEO of Second Harvest, to talk about the need for food assistance here in Central Florida. He also talked about how the food bank is preparing for hurricane season amid this pandemic and how people can get involved in helping those in need.

Ever since the coronavirus pandemic began, the food supply has been a top priority and still very much is. The Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is doing its part to help the community in a massive way. Every day, it’s pumping out 300,000 meals to families in need, doubling the pre-virus volume. Dave Krepcho, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida CEO, was News 6 anchor Justin Warmoth’s guest on “The Weekly On ClickOrlando.com.” Krepcho said he doesn’t expect the need for food to slow down anytime soon. He also said the pandemic has taught him important lessons and believes the food bank will be better for it down the road.

For an Orlando resident who fell ill to coronavirus after she lost her job, the struggle made her feel hopeless. Eventually, she said a state representative referred her to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. They were saying well I cant get out, I cant leave my home I need someone to bring food to me. 'Second Harvest Food Bank works with several agencies to make those home food deliveries. Wright-Jammeh recalled she sought help twice from the food bank but now gets help with government assistance.

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida just received about 18,000 meals from Walt Disney World after the company closed its parks Sunday night. Chief development officer Greg Higgerson said the food bank is now seeing an increase of need because of the recent shutdowns across Central Florida. Higgerson said local nonprofit organizations usually grab meals from the food bank then take it to a designated location, like a homeless shelter. Now the food bank is preparing to distribute even more food after the closures of several businesses because of the coronavirus. To keep up with the latest news on the pandemic, subscribe to News 6′s coronavirus newsletter or go to ClickOrlando.com/coronavirus.

Despite its temporary closure to the coronavirus outbreak, Walt Disney World Resort will continue to donate excess food inventory like fresh salads, greens and expertly cooked hot items to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Launched in 1991, Disney Harvest collects excess and unserved food from locations throughout Walt Disney World, delivering it to feeding programs across Central Florida.

Disneyland Resort in California announced on Thursday it would be closed from Sunday until the end of March. The closure leaves a lot of excess food at the theme park, and theme park officials announced on its blog the leftover food would not go to waste. [Coronavirus: Walt Disney World theme parks to close through March]During the temporary closure, excess food inventory will be donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, the blog stated. [RELATED: This will be the longest closure ever for Disney World]In 2019, Disneyland donated more than 200,000 meals to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County through its food donation program, officials said. Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando have also announced closures due to the coronavirus.

ORLANDO, Fla. – One in five children in Central Florida is considered food insecure. But thanks to Second Harvest Food Bank and a $10,000 donation from Safelite Autoglass, students in Orange County Title I schools have food to take home on the weekends. “Because we know when you have to make a decision between fresh produce and mac-and-cheese, you’re going to purchase the mac-and-cheese because it’s going to fill your belly a lot more than the fresh produce. But we also know health-wise, you really need that fresh produce,” he said. If you’d like to contribute to Second Harvest or volunteer, you’ll find ways to help at FeedHopeNow.org.

Second Harvest Food Bank gives individuals the opportunity to chase their food dreams. If you need help with the Public File, call 407-291-6000.