Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida

🎉Three Cheers for Volunteers! 🎉 Each year, thousands of people volunteer their time, talent, and energy to fight hunger in our community. Help celebrate a few volunteers who go above and beyond to ensure Central Florida kids, families and seniors have the nutritious food they need to thrive. ✨Andre Reyna Youth Against Hunger Award: Liam Brasher 🏆David Pearlman Spirit of Volunteerism Award: Evie Storlazzi 🏅Going the Extra Mile Award: Andrea Patenaude 🥇Most Inspirational Virtual Food Drive Award: Steve Ferrell ➡️Read more about their incredible contributions: https://lnkd.in/e3VbWpG6

📣Please join Second Harvest in wishing Volunteer Captain Harold a very Happy Birthday, which he spent volunteering at the food bank! Harold is a dedicated volunteer and a beloved presence at Second Harvest. Wish him all the best and thank him for fighting hunger and feeding hope! 🧡 🎉Happy Birthday, Captain Harold! 🎉 Sign up for a volunteer shift and you might just see Captain Harold around the food bank: https://lnkd.in/eASST8Zv

Families need food for today and hope for tomorrow. 🍽️ With nutritious meals to help them thrive, Second Harvest is feeding inspiration, change, achievement, health —& families facing hunger. In Central Florida, one in eight neighbors face hunger. It is a heart-wrenching reality for moms like Vanessa, whose family was uprooted after a hurricane and, despite being employed, finds it an uphill battle to secure housing near her job and children’s school. 🧡 “Food, gas, rent… the costs keep going up and up,” says Vanessa. “My paycheck can’t keep up. The bills and my paycheck don’t add up.” When everything else seems impossible, you make it possible for Vanessa and her kids to have healthy, nutritious food on the table. 🍏 Your support allows Second Harvest and its 750-member partner network to distribute enough food for 300,000 meals daily to kids, families and seniors. This is Food. Food is Family. https://lnkd.in/eEYW8XDc

🎃 #NationalPumpkinDay is observed every October 26 to celebrate the beloved autumnal icon. 🍁 From pumpkin spice lattes to jack-o-lanterns to pies, it seems like this fall favorite is everywhere this time of year. And pumpkins are delicious AND nutritious! 🧡 Pumpkin Food Facts: 🎃 Although we often think of pumpkins as vegetables, they’re actually fruits! Pumpkins, along with cucumbers, tomatoes, and avocados, come from the flowers of their plants. That makes them all fruits. 🎃 Each pumpkin contains about 500 seeds. 🎃 Every part of the pumpkin is edible, including the skin, leaves, flowers, and stem. Pumpkin and other squash blossoms can be eaten raw. 🎃 Pumpkin is a great source of beta carotene, which gives it its orange color (just like carrots and sweet potatoes). Beta carotene turns into vitamin A after you eat it, which is great for your eye and skin health, and supports your immune system. 🎃 Roasted pumpkin seeds are both tasty and nutritious! They are low in calories and high in protein and iron. Happy National Pumpkin Day! 🎉

Local teen Daniel doesn’t want candy when he trick-or-treats, he wants canned goods. And then he wants to give them away. 🥫 For the past six years, Daniel has organized his own Cans Over Candy food drive to support Second Harvest. 🍬 Ahead of Halloween, he notifies his neighbors with a flyer that he will collect non-perishable food on the holiday and then goes house-to-house like a traditional trick-or-treater when the day comes. 🎃 “I really enjoy being able to help out and give back,” Daniel said during a recent volunteer shift at the food bank. 🧡 In addition to collecting cans, Daniel started raising money for Second Harvest through a Virtual Food Drive. ➡️To support Cans Over Candy, visit https://lnkd.in/ev5M2neh

✨ Don't know if it gets better than this! These girls are fighting hunger head first, fearless! ✨ Two young Swifties in New Orleans have created a Virtual Food Drive for Second Harvest ahead of Taylor's arrival in their city this weekend to help support friends in “Florida!!!” recovering from Hurricane Milton. 🧡 🎉 If you're in your “Giving Era” please help them reach their goal of $1,313. With a gift of $13 you can help provide more than 50 meals: https://lnkd.in/eZdkJuEd https://lnkd.in/eFe8MY-k

🎉1,000 Classes! 🎉 Second Harvest's Nutrition Education program recently celebrated this major milestone! A recent “Gut Health” class in Osceola County was No. 1,000 and instructor Abir Blaney was honored it was her class. 🧡 “I am in awe of the number of classes we have reached, and so glad that Second Harvest is able to provide this opportunity for our community to learn and live a healthier lifestyle,” she said. A team of nutrition educators leads free nutrition education classes in Brevard, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Volusia counties. ➡️Find one near you: https://lnkd.in/eTJPtGBx

As hurricane recovery continues, many in your community still experience hunger on a regular basis. By becoming a monthly Meal Maker, you can offer relief in times of crisis and help provide stability and nourishment to neighbors throughout the year. 🍽️ 📣Right now, new Meal Makers will have their monthly gift matched for a year! Don't miss this special opportunity to join a community of supporters committed to helping neighbors day in and day out. Your monthly gift not only provides food — it offers hope, stability and a sense of security. 🧡 ➡️Become a Meal Maker: https://lnkd.in/echsTBqY

Create a legacy of hope and security. This #NationalEstatePlanningWeek, Second Harvest can help you tailor your charitable gift to your financial, tax or estate-planning objectives. Learn more about planned giving: https://lnkd.in/gaNE2zaK

We're stronger together in the fight against hunger. Second Harvest recently hosted a listening session, providing a direct dialogue between Commissioner Shan Rose and feeding partners in the Orlando area. Feeding partners shared their experiences and challenges serving neighbors with the Commissioner and discussed potential solutions. Thank you, Commissioner and feeding partners, for taking the time to discuss and brainstorm potential collaborations to support neighbors facing hunger!