by Kate Quinones
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida recently recognized dozens of volunteers for their contributions to the organization and its mission to fight hunger. Between July 2023 and June 2024, 48,511 individuals provided 131,136 hours of service to feed Hope across the Food Bank’s seven-county area.
Every year, Second Harvest honors those volunteers and presents several distinct awards to individuals who have gone above and beyond to further the nonprofit’s critical work. The 2024 Volunteer Award recipients are:
- Liam Brasher, Clermont. Liam was honored with the Andre Reyna Youth Against Hunger Award for his dedication, which includes choosing to spend his birthday volunteering at the food bank. From sorting food donations to learning how to operate a pallet jack, Liam brings enthusiasm to every project and encourages his family and friends to regularly join him for a volunteer shift.
- Evie Storlazzi, Orlando. Evie received the David Pearlman Spirit of Volunteerism Award. In the past year, she has participated in nearly 250 volunteer opportunities, and through her individual service consistently generates enough financial savings to provide 50,000 meals. Evie’s passion for fighting hunger isn’t just about amassing volunteer hours; she also helps new volunteers by sharing her box-assembly techniques to help others maximize efficiency.
- Andrea Patenaude, Oviedo. Andrea was recognized with the Going the Extra Mile Award for consistently exceeding expectations. For the past 16 years, she has dedicated hundreds of volunteer hours to many big events, including the Ultimate Garden Party and Taste! Central Florida. She continues to advocate for hunger relief efforts by sharing stories with others.
- Steve Ferrell, Howey in the Hills. Steve was presented with theMost Inspirational Virtual Food Drive Award. For the past 16 years, he has hosted a lunchtime concert in downtown Orlando to raise awareness and funds for hunger relief. Armed with a cadre of sponsors, family and friends donating to the cause, Steve helped provide more than 120,000 meals for Central Florida neighbors at a recent event.
“Volunteers are the heartbeat of our hunger relief efforts in Central Florida,” said Derrick Chubbs, President and CEO at Second Harvest Food Bank. “Their dedication and hard work make it possible to distribute enough food for 300,000 meals every day, providing hope and nourishment to hardworking families. We couldn’t achieve this level of impact without the generous support of our community.”
To learn more about the different opportunities to support Second Harvest and local hunger relief efforts, visit www.FeedHopeNow.org.
About Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida (SHFBCF)
SHFBCF is a member of Feeding America – the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. SHFBCF secures and distributes food and grocery products to more than 750 local nonprofit feeding partners throughout Central Florida. With the help of food and financial donors, volunteers and a caring, committed community, the food bank distributes 300,000 meals every day to a seven-county service area, which includes Brevard, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia. Feeding neighbors facing hunger is only the beginning. By investing in job training programs, advocating for access to nutritious foods, and inspiring our community to get involved, SHFBCF is leaning into the root causes of hunger and helping our neighbors thrive. With support from the Central Florida community, Second Harvest Food Bank is feeding inspiration, change, achievement, health — and families facing hunger. To learn more about SHFBCF, visit www.FeedHopeNow.org.
