Healthy Pantry Highlight
Author: Agency Relations & Programs Team
Second Harvest Food Bank has been working hard to contribute to the Central Florida community’s health and wellness. Because food insecurity is one of the leading factors contributing to chronic disease and illness among people who are low income and living in poverty Second Harvest created my position as the Healthy Pantry Network Coordinator through a West Orange Healthcare District grant. The focus of the grant is for our partner agencies within the footprint of the West Orange Health District. However every pantry in our agency network is able and encouraged to contact me about information and guidance to improve the health status of their pantry. Since the beginning of this grant the pantry at St. Andrews Catholic Church has been working closely with me to implement as many health upgrades to their pantry as they can. They’ve been extremely receptive and interested in the nutrition information for their client’s food bags and we’ve been able to communicate about healthier foods for their homeless population. They’ve also had UF/IFAS Extension’s Family and Nutrition Program come out to their food distributions to provide nutrition education to their clients. This coming winter they will take part in a Request For Proposals (RFP) training where they will have the opportunity to apply for more equipment that will expand their pantry’s capacity to distribute a larger quantity of healthier foods.
If you are interested in nutrition resources for your pantry you can find a nutrition resources tab on Second Harvest’s partner website. Also feel free to contact me and use me as a tool to expand your pantry’s growth in health and wellness.
Rachel Stankiewitch
October 3, 2017
It’s Cucumber Season!
Author: Agency Relations & Programs Team
As temperatures rise, there’s no better time to enjoy Florida cucumbers!
Cucumbers come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, sizes and textures. There are the traditional green-colored cucumbers, as well as white and yellow ones. They may be short, slightly oval or even round in shape. The skin on the cucumber can be smooth and thin or thick and rough.
Cucumbers are known for being very low in calories – a whole cucumber is only 45 calories, an excellent source of vitamin K and a good source of vitamin C and potassium.
In the United States, Florida is the number one producer of cucumbers. The two main types grown are slicers, produced for fresh consumption, and picklers, produced for processing into pickles.
Cucumber creations:
- Add to smoothies or juice
- Make a wrap with sliced meat, cheese, hummus, lettuce, sprouts and cucumber
October 3, 2017
Important Information Regarding Disaster- SNAP
Author: Agency Relations & Programs TeamThese benefits are only for those not currently receiving SNAP. Eligible individuals and families must have suffered a disaster-related loss, such as damage to their homes or self-employment property, loss of food, reduction or loss of income, or have incurred other disaster related expenses. Disaster-SNAP Application link and dates.
School lunch:
September 20, 2017
Important Reminder about Disaster Relief
Author: Agency Relations & Programs Team
As part of the Feeding America Network, Second Harvest and other food banks across the country stand ready to support the recovery phase of the flooding caused by the storm.
Please remember that, per your Memorandum of Agreement with Second Harvest, agencies cannot use Second Harvest/USDA product for relief efforts outside of Central Florida:
Distribution is limited to use in the area that the agency serves, specifically Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia Counties. Under no circumstances can product obtained from SHFB leave the designated county.
The easiest and most effective way to give back to the victims remains a financial donation directly to the Houston Food Bank or Feeding Texas. Sending any goods to the affected areas in an uncoordinated way is likely to contribute to the ‘disaster within a disaster’ that often results in these situations.
To donate to the Houston Food Bank, visit www.houstonfoodbank.org
To donate to Feeding Texas, visit www.feedingtexas.org
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