Thanks to you, thousands of kids and families had a hope-filled summer!
Second Harvest’s Summer Food Service Program hit the road on May 29 to deliver fresh, healthy meals to kids. With 51 new locations in 2018, the program served children at over 118 summer camps, day care centers, parks, libraries and other programs across all six Central Florida counties five days a week all summer long.
A few highlights:
- 306,797 meals were served to kids ages 18 and under – a 30% increase over 2017!
- In June, the 1 millionth summer food service program mealwas served at Barnett Park in Orlando.
- Second Harvest trailers traveled 59,600 miles to serve breakfast, lunch and snacks – that’s enough to circle the earth 2.4 times!
Second Harvest and its network of 550 feeding partners were out in force this summer to distribute 8 million meals to kids and families at food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters. One way this feat is accomplished is through mobile food dropsthat distribute fresh produce, meats and dairy along with pantry staples in food deserts where neighbors do not have easy access to a traditional grocer. This summer 70 mobile drops were held in just 74 days!
While most students were out of school, Second Harvest’s Culinary and Distribution Center Training Programs were in full swing with a total of 25 students. These economically disadvantaged adults spent the summer learning the professional and life skills needed to secure sustainable careers in the food industry or in a distribution center.
In addition, thanks to the support of Walt Disney World Foundation, Second Harvest launched the Team Nutrition Team. This group of nine high school juniors and seniors from six Central Florida high schools spent the summer learning about nutrition and demonstrating their new skills with engaging activities at community events. They collectively provided nutrition education to 500 adults and children this summer and will take this knowledge and experience back to their campuses to share with their peers throughout the school year.
All of this was accomplished with your help. Thanks to financial donations, FUNdraise for Good participants and an enormous investment of time and energy by more than 1,100 volunteers, students and families across Central Florida are returning to school filled with hope for the year ahead.
Second Harvest Food Bank has already pivoted from its summer programs to provide students with access to nourishing meals at Kids Café sites, School Markets and through weekend backpack programs. Learn more about these essential childhood hunger programs that help students arrive at school ready to learn all year long at www.feedhopenow.org/how_help_kids.