As communities in our area picked up the pieces after Hurricane Milton, many families struggled to put food on the table. Second Harvest of Central Florida and its team of volunteers are now coming to the rescue.
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“We volunteer as a family and give back to our community,” said Julie Torbert, who spent part of her Saturday at the Second Harvest Warehouse in Orange County. “Just talking to you gives me goosebumps. It’s just a simple thing we can do for our community, just a few hours of our time and it can make a difference. It’s that simple.”
The organization provides approximately 300,000 meals per day in Central Florida on a regular basis. However, that number increased significantly after Hurricane Milton, to more than 450,000 meals.
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“On a typical day, one in eight people in Central Florida need help with food,” said Greg Higgerson of Second Harvest Food Bank. “When a disaster like Milton occurs, we layer it on top of the already existing need. So now we are looking to increase the amount of food going out in the coming days and weeks.”
In the warehouse, volunteers sort, prepare and package food that goes directly to those who need it. “Some people got away with it easily, with just some rain and wind. But it affects other people,” said Craig Marijanich, who has been volunteering with Second Harvest for about a decade. “We are coming together as a community to see what we can do to support each other.”
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Sorority sisters from Orlando’s Delta Sigma Theta sorority came out in droves to help – with 46 volunteers on Saturday morning. “This is my passion. I am here with my fraternity and some of our students,” said Charline Charles-Whittaker, counselor, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Orlando. “We often try to choose charities to give back throughout the year. As a community we must strengthen each other.
Second Harvest of Central Florida needs more volunteers. To enter, go to feedhopenow.com and fill out a form.
Read: These Florida schools return to class after Hurricane Milton
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