“We’ve served Central Florida through many disasters, but nothing compares to what we’re seeing from this pandemic,” said Dave Krepcho, president and CEO of Second Harvest. “This funding will mean hope for many hardworking families who saw their livelihoods erased essentially overnight. Thanks to The Darden Foundation, we’ll be able to purchase more food for distribution and support our neighbors in a time of unprecedented need.”

Since mid-March, when businesses and theme parks shut down to curb the spread of COVID-19, Second Harvest has doubled its daily distribution to keep pace with rising need for hunger relief. Now, the organization distributes enough food to provide 300,000 meals a day.

Second Harvest, a member of the Feeding America^® network, is one of 192 food banks to receive funding from The Darden Foundation. The Foundation has worked alongside Feeding America for eight years and remains committed to supporting families facing food insecurity in communities across the United States.

To learn more about Second Harvest, visit www.FeedHopeNow.org.

The post Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida Receives $69,000 Grant From The Darden Foundation To Help Fight Hunger appeared first on South Lake Tablet.

The event is called Share Day 2019, and the goal is to help fill the food void for families just prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. “It will help get families through Thanksgiving week since there is no school,” said William Roberts, principal of Windy Hill Middle School, 3575 Hancock Road, Clermont, where the food distribution will take place.

Lake County Schools provides free breakfasts and lunches to students every school day. When school is not in session, families have the added expenses of providing those meals. Roberts said the food offered at Share Day will help make that burden a little lighter.

“Our biggest goal is to make sure those kids have food for that week when they are away from school,” said Patricia Kry, executive director of FAITH Neighborhood Center, one of the many organizations that are a part of Food Providers of South Lake, a collaborative group that is providing the food and helping with distribution. Other participants include Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Real Life Christian Church, The Church of South Lake / South Lake Community Ministries, First United Methodist Church and Community Foundation of South Lake.

Students from the school’s fine arts program and National Junior Honor Society will assist as well.

The school gates will open at 10 a.m. and cars will proceed through a series of stops, picking up food at each one. Seasonal produce, shelf-stable items and meat will be available along with bags filled by churches with Thanksgiving Day fixings – everything except turkeys and hams, Kry said.

Anyone in South Lake County who is in need of food is welcome. The group hopes to serve at least 500 families.

The post Windy Hill Middle School Partners With Community Organizations For Pre-Thanksgiving Food Drop (November 23) appeared first on South Lake Tablet.