KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Many Central Florida families impacted by COVID-19 and are struggling to afford basic necessities.
Relief organizations are busier than ever because of the pandemic, and food insecurity has reached historic highs in the area.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is doing its part to help combat hunger around the area.
Early Thursday afternoon, Second Harvest partnered with Advanced Senior Center’s food bank program to set up a distribution site at a Kissimmee church.
Today’s event supplied nearly 600 families with food.
“They’re picking up nonperishable food items, frozen meat, produce, milk, all the essentials that they would need to feed their family,” said Erika Spence from Second Harvest.
A new study shows that pandemic related food insecurity is now affecting nearly half of the people of Central Florida.
Norberto Fonseca from the Advanced Senior Center says, “since the pandemic we doubled our need for this county, so now we are serving around 80-thousand pounds monthly.”
Researchers found that in just the past four months food demand has surpassed levels from hurricanes, floods, fires, 9-11 and even the Great Depression.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida said that adds up to 300,000 meals a day across the region. That is triple three times higher than the before the pandemic.