Access to healthy affordable food is limited and one of the top needs in Seminole County, according to the Seminole County 2022 Community Needs Assessment.
With over 46,000 people experiencing hunger in Seminole County, according to a 2020 study by Feeding America, nonprofit food banks have continued to lend a helping hand in local food deserts that have worsened following the COVID-19 pandemic.
A food desert is a low-income area that has limited access to supermarkets or grocery stores that sell fresh fruits and vegetables.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is a nonprofit that has been distributing food for 40 years in seven Central Florida counties — including Brevard, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia.
The food bank works with over 625 local partners to donate food to pantries, shelters, daycares, churches, and more. This leads to over 300,000 meals being distributed every day.
Erika Spence, storytelling and communications manager with Second Harvest Food Bank, said the nonprofit has doubled food distribution compared to rates prior to COVID-19.
“I watch [the distribution rate] climb to 300,000 meals a day during the pandemic. With inflation, rising rent, and higher costs for gas and utilities, the distribution rate has remained at this heightened level,” said Spence.
Food included in the distributions changes daily based on what is donated by partners. Typical donation items are cereal, rice, beans, soup, peanut butter or tuna. Second Harvest Food Bank also distributes a variety of fresh and frozen items like fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meat and bread, Spence said.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida typically hosts mobile food distributions two or three times a day at varying locations through their feeding partners.
“The most reliable way to find food assistance is to connect with a local emergency food pantry. These partners are located in communities and neighborhoods, so you don’t have to travel across town to get to a larger event,” Spence said.
Heart, Hands and Hope, a nonprofit food partner working with Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, distributed over 30,000 meals over a three-month period to Seminole County families in need in 2020.
Now, the nonprofit delivers more than 140,000 meals a year to more than 13 locations across Seminole County.
The Picnic Project, a nonprofit based in Sanford, also works with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida to supply food to areas in Seminole County. The Picnic Project holds weekly food drives focusing on neighborhoods in Sanford – including Goldsboro.
Kerry Wiggins, Sanford Commissioner of District 2, said the food donations from The Picnic Project have helped served about 720 families.
“The impact has been great! We have families looking forward to the fourth Friday of each month in my district. It gives hope to the citizens that come out to receive the food,” said Wiggins. “I believe that we still have work to do, but we are definitely moving in the right direction. Picnic Project is truly a blessing to our community!”
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