If your organization is interested in being considered, please contact Santos Maldonado at SMaldonado@FeedHopeNow.org.

Dear Partner Agencies

It is with great excitement that we announce registration is open for Second Harvest Food Bank’s 5^th Annual Partner Agency Conference!

The conference is returning to Calvary Orlando on Friday, March 20, 2020.

Please see the attached invitation and registration link: https://www.feedhopenow.org/site/SPageServer/?pagename=RSVP_agency

Be sure to RSVP by February 14^th. Registration is limited to 2 attendees per agency. Please Register by using the link above.

We strive to move into 2020 together with a clear vision and direction to fight hunger and feed hope in Central Florida. Please join us for the exciting opportunity to connect with your fellow hunger fighting partners, learn more about the needs and resources in our community, and to commit to making a difference in the lives of those we serve.

We look forward to connecting with you on March 20^th!

Thank you for all that you do!

     This Thanksgiving season cozy up to the sweet comfort of winter squash. This family of nutrient packed vegetables include pumpkin, spaghetti squash, acorn squash, and butternut squash. These fall favorites provide numerous health benefits that may help reduce various types of illness such as heart and respiratory disease, cancer, diabetes, and arthritis. Benefits are also found in the red, orange, and yellow pigment of the skin where high levels of alpha- carotene and beta- carotene convert to Vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential for vision health and can help boost immune function. Winter squash is also packed with fiber which can help keep blood sugar levels stable.

The best part is that most winter squash varieties are naturally sweet which makes it a great food for kids to try. You can bake, broil, or steam the vegetable to vary its texture. The healthiest way to prepare winter squash is to peel the vegetable, remove the seeds, cut the squash into cubes, and then steam them for about seven minutes. If you don’t want to peel the vegetable, you can cut it in half and poke the meat of the vegetable with a fork. Then throw it in the oven and bake until tender. For a power packed holiday treat, try roasting butternut squash with a sprinkle of brown sugar and a drizzle of maple syrup.

Avey, Tori. “Maple Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash – Vegan Recipe.” Tori Avey, 18 Nov. 2019, https://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/maple-cinnamon-roasted-butternut-squash/.

Collins, Karen. “The Best Winter Foods for Kids.” EatRight, 13 Dec. 2018, https://www.eatright.org/food/planning-and-prep/cooking-tips-and-trends/best-winter-foods-for-kids.

“Office of Dietary Supplements – Vitamin A.” NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/#h7.

Swartzendruber, Kris. “Enjoy the Taste and Health Benefits of Winter Squash.” MSU Extension, Michigan State University Extension, 2 Oct. 2018, https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/enjoy_the_taste_and_health_benefits_of_winter_squash.

On any given day you will find these two ladies waiting to greet you in our Partner Agency Lobby at the Orlando Warehouse. Many times I can hear laughter pouring over from the agency lobby and I can almost always count on it coming from Charlotte or Evelyn interacting with the agencies. They offer a familiar face and help the whole shopping experience feel less intimidating and more welcoming. I once asked both of them what they love most about their jobs and they both said that the agencies they interact with daily make their job meaningful. Charlotte and Evelyn are responsible for scheduling agency appointments, finalizing agency orders, answering food assistance calls, managing agency shopping and the list could goes on! Above all of this they continually provide great customer service to each agency that walks through our lobby doors. So, the next time you’re in our agency lobby be sure to stop and give an extra thank you to Charlotte and Evelyn we could not do what we do without them! 

– Fernanda Ngo