TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — For the first time in eight years, Second Harvest of the Big Bend is thrilled to say they're seeing a decrease in the number of people who don't know where their dinner is going to come from.
WTXL ABC 27's Valerie Mills shows us how the hard work being done at the area food bank is making a difference for families in need.
"We've increased food distribution by 84 percent so we've nearly doubled our food going out in just three years," said Rick Minor, CEO of Second Harvest of the Big Bend.
The Second Harvest warehouse, full of thousands of pounds of food, all for Big Bend families who don't have access to a meal every day. A Feeding America study just released finds food insecurity in the Big Bend is down 3.7 percent, partly thanks to the food bank.
Mobile food pantries now roll around town 12 times a month, triple the number in 2015.
"One thing we're doing over the next year is increasing those numbers of mobile pantries because it's a really great way to get food out to those who need it in the community," said Minor.
Another 2019 initiative for the food bank is getting food to more children who don't always have a meal outside of school. Minor says food insecurity among children has decreased by six percent since 2015 but that still leaves more than 20,000 hungry children in the 11 Big Bend counties.
He plans to continue expanding programs this year to keep this trend on track.
"The work that we're all doing, the work that the community is supporting is paying off," said Minor.
Another new initiative Second Harvest is starting is Food for Thought tours.
You're invited to come see the warehouse and learn more about volunteering to help the food bank on their mission to fill every hungry stomach.
