Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is preparing its Summer Food Service Program, which provides free meals and snacks to individuals aged 18 and under during summer break. The initiative aims to reach children who may not have access to regular meals when school is not in session.
According to regional data, over 60% of children in Central Florida qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. However, participation in summer nutrition programs remains low, with only about 9% of eligible children accessing these services. This program is intended to address that gap by delivering prepared meals to designated sites across the region.
Since its local implementation in 2008, Second Harvest has distributed more than 2.7 million meals through the program. Meal preparation and packaging take place at Second Harvest’s Mercy Kitchen facility in Orlando, with distribution carried out through a network of partner sites.
The organization is seeking additional community involvement to support program operations. Volunteer opportunities are available for individuals or groups interested in assisting with meal assembly. Information on volunteering is available at www.feedhopenow.org/volunteer.
Organizations interested in becoming partner meal distribution sites can contact Santos Maldonado at smaldonado@feedhopenow.org for more details.
The Florida Summer Food Service Program is a federally funded initiative administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to ensure children continue to receive nutritious meals throughout the summer months.