During the February 11 visit, Florida’s second highest-ranking officer saw how state funding is vital to supporting local hunger relief efforts. Second Harvest leaders highlighted key partnerships with more than a hundred Florida farmers, ranchers and producers that redirect surplus commodities – such as fruit, vegetables, beef, seafood, dairy, and eggs – to families at risk of experiencing hunger. They also discussed Second Harvest’s infrastructure and partnership with the state to move disaster supplies following a hurricane.

“We were honored to host Lt. Governor Collins today and show how our team works every day to ensure that Central Floridians have access to the healthy food they need to thrive,” said Derrick Chubbs, President and CEO at Second Harvest. “Visits like this help bring our mission to life and strengthen partnerships that make a real difference in the lives of children, seniors and families across our community.”

Second Harvest and Lt. Governor Collins shared a vision for addressing root causes of hunger, from nutrition education to workforce development and creating economic mobility. The food bank’s Culinary Training Program demonstrates the transformative power of public, private and nonprofit partners working to create a resilient, skilled workforce. 

“Visiting Second Harvest and seeing their operation in action reinforced the notion that when we work together, from the state level down to individual communities, we can find solutions to complex issues facing our neighbors,” said Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins. “Whether it is supporting agriculture, addressing individual health and nutrition, or investing in a strong workforce, it is all about equipping Floridians to thrive.”

As the largest emergency food provider in Central Florida, Second Harvest distributes enough food to provide 330,000 meals a day.

For more information about how to support Second Harvest’s hunger relief efforts, or to find assistance, visitFeedHopeNow.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 800 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 330,000 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 https://FeedHopeNow.org.

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The announcement comes during Hunger Action Month, a nationwide campaign held each September to inspire people to get involved with relief efforts in their community. Between July 2024 and June 2025, 42,433 individuals provided 127,486 hours of service to feed hope across Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida’s seven-county area.

Every year, Second Harvest honors those volunteers and presents awards to people who have gone above and beyond to further the nonprofit’s critical work. The 2025 Volunteer Award recipients are:

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  Cooper Boris, Orlando. Cooper received the Andre Reyna Youth Against Hunger Award for leading relief efforts at Edgewater High School. As a member of Second Harvest’s School Partnerships Program, the Eagles Market distributed enough food for 10,283 meals during the 2024-2025 school year. Cooper volunteered at least 120 hours at the market as manager and handled nearly all aspects of the operation, including placing orders, budgeting, hosting site visits, compliance monitoring and more.

• Al Delio, Minneola. Al was honored with the David Pearlman Spirit of Volunteerism

  

  Award. Since 2016, he has clocked more than 5,600 volunteer hours. Al is one of Second Harvest’s volunteer captains, an extension of the operations staff – and he specifically holds off on signing up for shifts until he sees where the greatest need is to insert himself there. During his time at the food bank, he has stepped in to run volunteer projects, work special events or offsite projects.

• J.J. Lullen, Orlando. J.J. was presented with the Most Inspirational Virtual Food Drive Award. Organizing a virtual food drive is one way to get involved with local hunger relief efforts for Second Harvest, and J.J. has been a dedicated supporter for more than a decade. He hosts an annual food drive – both physically and virtually – in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, most recently raising enough to provide more than 11,000 meals to feed neighbors experiencing hunger across Central Florida.

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  Haley Hitzing, Colorado. Haley received the Going Above and Beyond Award for her extraordinary leadership and commitment to Taste! Central Florida. Despite living out of state, she has dedicated countless hours to guiding a volunteer committee of more than 50 members and supporting nearly every aspect of the event, from the silent auction and registration to entertainment, logistics and permitting. Her efforts help ensure the annual fundraiser continues its legacy of providing meals for Central Florida children who are at risk of experiencing hunger.

“These awards recognize more than hours served – they reflect the heart, compassion, and commitment each volunteer brings to our mission,” said Derrick Chubbs, President and CEO. “As we recognize their efforts during Hunger Action Month, we’re reminded that it takes all of us – and every dollar or hour given helps put meals on the table for families across Central Florida.”

In addition to the awards above, Second Harvest also recognized Jerry Hauck and Justin Molloy for joining the 50K club – a small but mighty group of volunteers, who through their time each year, provide more than 50,000 meals to kids, families and seniors facing hunger.

To learn more about the different opportunities to support Second Harvest and local hunger relief efforts, visit FeedHopeNow.org.

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Sites will be selected based on volume, geography, and commitment, including the ability to participate from June 2 – August 8, 2025. For more information, contact Santos Maldonado at smaldonado@feedhopenow.org.

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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.
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• 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.

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On Monday, May 13, Congressman Maxwell Frost (D-FL 10th) presented Second Harvest president and CEO Derrick Chubbs with a check. The money will help the food bank purchase a new Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system, which will increase the efficiency of Second Harvest’s commercial freezer. The technology will also stabilize freezer temperatures in the event of equipment failure or power outages during natural disasters and better protect food from spoiling.

This upgrade not only strengthens Second Harvest’s ability to continue distributing high volumes of frozen foods and other perishable goods to neighbors facing hunger, but the energy cost savings will be invested in purchasing additional food to distribute to the community. One in eight Central Floridians – and one in five children – is at risk of experiencing hunger on any given day. Second Harvest is the region’s largest food bank and distributes enough food for 300,000 meals a day.

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 At any given time in Central Florida, one in eight of our neighbors are faced with not being able to afford enough food for themselves and their family members. In these moments, it’s good to know that a network of 625 community feeding partners supplied with food by Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is available to help them. Each day, the food bank is distributing enough food for 300,000 meals – and still thousands of kids, seniors, veterans and hard-working families are at risk of going to bed hungry.

It takes all of us chipping in, every day of the year, to feed hope across Orange, Osceola, Brevard, Volusia, Seminole, Lake and Marion counties. This May let’s challenge each other to participate in Community Action Month by finding ways to support local hunger relief efforts. Here are some ideas to help you get inspired:

• Volunteer your time. Volunteers play a vital role in Second Harvest’s mission –and without them, the food bank would have to spend millions of dollars on manpower. Last year, 30,000 volunteers donated nearly 90,000 hours of work. And we anticipate those numbers will grow in 2023. We need about 100 volunteers a day to support operations at our main warehouse, Mercy Kitchen, our three branch facilities and at mobile distribution events with our feeding partners.
• Start a virtual food drive. Second Harvest Food Bank’s virtual food drive is a web-based tool that makes it easy for anyone to raise funds to support hunger relief efforts. Organizations can also register to host a virtual food drive and challenge their employees to be involved. And even a small amount of money raised can yield big benefits: The food bank can provide 40 meals for just $10 – meaning every dollar delivers significant purchasing power.
• Learn more. Every month, Second Harvest opens its warehouse for “Food for Thought” tours, a behind-the-scenes look at operations. Participants hear stories of neighbors who are experiencing food insecurity and then see firsthand how Second Harvest collects, sorts and distributes more than a million meals a year. The tours also stop in Second Harvest’s commercial kitchen, where students enrolled in the Culinary Training Program learn valuable life and work skills needed to pursue a career in food service. More than 425 people have graduated from the program since it was founded 10 years ago.
• Use your voice. Advocacy is a crucial part of hunger relief. As the region’s largest food bank, Second Harvest advocates for programs and policies at all levels of government to provide nutritious meals to Central Floridians experiencing hunger. But the food bank can’t do it alone. Anyone can sign up for Second Harvest’s newsletter, which keeps subscribers informed about the causes and dangers of hunger as well as policy changes and potential impact for our community. Advocates can share these insights with their personal and professional networks and/or post reactions to the information on social media.

Whether it’s selecting one of the ideas above or thinking outside the box for something new, your “actions” can make a meaningful impact on the community today, tomorrow and each day after.

For more information about Second Harvest and how to support local hunger relief efforts, including signing up to volunteer, host a virtual food drive, register for a “Food for Thought” tour or take the advocacy pledge, visit www.FeedHopeNow.org.

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 One of the recipients honored at the 2022 Volunteer Awards was Minneola resident, Alfred “Al” Delio, who received the “Going the Extra Mile” award.

 Second Harvest leaders honored Delio because he doesn’t only respond to needs – he actively seeks out opportunities to be more helpful. From volunteering at special events and offsite projects to answering calls at the front desk, Delio shows up when the going gets tough and stays until the work is done. Since 2016, he has contributed more than 2,100 hours of service to feeding hope across Central Florida.

 Volunteers are the lifeblood of Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Last year 28,289 people generously donated 95,133 hours of service to share love, kindness and hope with Central Florida neighbors facing hunger. From preparing meals for kids at Mercy Kitchen to sorting food donations, bottling honey and even helping at food distributions, individuals and corporate groups make a positive impact on the lives of others.

 To read more about volunteer opportunities at Second Harvest, visit www.feedhopenow.org/volunteer.

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For the past five years, Chubbs has been President and CEO of Central Texas Food Bank (CTFB) in Austin, the largest hunger-relief agency in Central Texas, providing more than 64 million pounds of food and grocery items to over 300,000 residents across 21 counties. In addition to guiding the food bank during a time of unprecedented need caused by the coronavirus pandemic, he has helped to lay a strong financial and strategic foundation for the future success of the CTFB.

“Derrick is an accomplished business leader who is driven by a passion to help others, making him the ideal leader for Second Harvest,” said Jeff Lutes, Board Chairman. “With thousands of families working to regain stable financial footing amid the pandemic, our work to feed hope has never been more important than it is right now. Derrick will further Dave’s legacy while positioning Second Harvest for the future.”

During Krepcho’s 17 years of leadership, the food bank expanded distribution capabilities, reduced food waste, introduced its Culinary Training Program, and launched several social enterprise initiatives to provide a sustainable revenue stream, including a catering division and signature food product line.

“Second Harvest has established itself as a national leader advocating for those experiencing food insecurity,” added Chubbs. “It is my honor and privilege to join this team as we continue with our relentless pursuit towards eliminating hunger in Central Florida.”

Prior to joining the Food Bank Network, Chubbs was with the American Red Cross where he held both regional and national executive roles. He began his professional career in the for-profit technology sector, holding senior leadership positions with companies such as IBM, Pervasive Software, and Dell before following his passion for community service. Derrick is a graduate of the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State University and is nearing completion of his Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Texas.

Chubbs, his wife, Loly, and dog, Einstein, are looking forward to making Central Florida their new home.

For more information about Second Harvest and the different ways to support hunger relief efforts, visit www.FeedHopeNow.org.

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