ORLANDO, Fla. — The Foundation for Orange County Public Schools has received a $400,000 grant to strengthen school-based food pantries and expand access to healthy food for students and families.
The Florida Blue Foundation grant will support the nonprofit’s Food Pantry Capacity and Access Expansion Initiative, focusing on school-based pantries in low-income communities, according to an announcement released Tuesday.
The Foundation for OCPS is the school district’s nonprofit philanthropic partner, raising support for student needs and educational opportunities.
Expanding access through schools
The initiative will strengthen pantry infrastructure and help schools respond to families experiencing food insecurity.
“No student should have to worry about where their next meal will come from,” said Debi Pedraza, executive director of the Foundation for OCPS.
“This generous investment from the Florida Blue Foundation will help us strengthen school-based food pantries so more families can access healthy food through a place they already know and trust,” Pedraza said.
The announcement did not identify participating schools, specify how many families the grant will serve or provide a timeline for the improvements.
Part of a statewide investment
The Foundation for OCPS is one of eight nonprofit organizations included in the Florida Blue Foundation’s September announcement of $3.1 million in grants for community-based food initiatives across Florida.
The grants address food insecurity and its connection to health, according to the announcement.
“Hunger and chronic disease are deeply connected, and we know when we invest in food access, we invest in health,” said Susan Towler, vice president of corporate social responsibility and Florida Blue Foundation.
Established in 1987, the Foundation for OCPS supports student essentials, academic programs, arts, athletics and other district needs.
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