Blog Posts

One in Six Jacksonville Residents Faces Hunger

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., (April 29, 2013) – According to Feeding America, more than 368,000 north Florida residents are food insecure, meaning they do not have consistent access to critical nutrition. In Duval County, 19.7% or 168,830 residents are food insecure, and in St. Johns County, it’s 14.1% or 25,550. To help address this need, Fifth Third Bank (North Florida) has partnered with Second Harvest North Florida to collect non-perishable food items during the “Feeding our Communities” food drive. Donations will be accepted at all Fifth Third bank branches from May 3 to June 30, 2013.

The “Feeding our Communities” food drive is a component of Fifth Third Day (May 3), an annual event when the bank celebrates its heritage by giving back to the community. The bank’s north Florida affiliate’s partnership with Second Harvest serves to address the effects of hunger.

“We’ve seen the pervasive effects of hunger in our community, and the need for help continues to grow,” said Bruce Ganger, executive director of Second Harvest. “We are thankful for the partnership with Fifth Third Bank. The donated food will directly help local children, families and seniors. Every can or box helps make a difference, not only to fight hunger but also to provide hope.”

Food collection bins for non-perishable food items are set up at all 11 Fifth Third banking centers in Duval and St. Johns counties. Bank employees and customers – as well as local businesses and community residents – are encouraged to contribute. Most needed items are canned fruit, peanut butter, boxed cereal, canned meats and beans.

“Hunger is a vital need, and our company intends to make a difference in the community that supports us,” said Reagan Rick, president and CEO of Fifth Third Bank (Central and North Florida). “We can make a difference for thousands of our neighbors … one meal at a time.”

To donate, stop by your local Fifth Third banking center or visit 53.com to find a location nearest you.

About Fifth Third Bank

Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Company has $122 billion in assets and operates 18 affiliates with 1,325 full-service Banking Centers, including 106 Bank Mart® locations open seven days a week inside select grocery stores and 2,415 ATMs in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Georgia and North Carolina. Fifth Third operates four main businesses: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending, and Investment Advisors. Fifth Third also has a 33% interest in Vantiv Holding, LLC. Fifth Third is among the largest money managers in the Midwest and, as of December 31, 2012, had $308 billion in assets under care, of which it managed $27 billion for individuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations. Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Fifth Third's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® National Global Select Market under the symbol "FITB."  Fifth Third Bank.  Member FDIC.   

Tonight is Second Harvest night at Sea Best Field. Cheer on the Jacksonville Sharks as they take on the Iowa Barnstormers and support Second Harvest by making a non-perishable food donation before the game. Second Harvest staff and volunteers will be holding a food drive out front, so bring food to donate and look for the bog blue truck. 

JACKSONVILLE, FL, March 6, 2013 – Donating with The Blood Alliance during the months of October, November and December 2012 meant that with one blood donation, donors would help raise money for local breast cancer research, feed local families in need, raise money for wounded warriors, and fund pediatric research for children with deadly myopathies.  The Blood Alliance presented checks to four beneficiaries on Wednesday, March 6, to representatives from Wounded Warrior Project, The Donna Foundation, Second Harvest and the Joshua Frase Foundation.

The Blood Alliance donated $1.00 for each blood donation made at any of its donor centers in the months of October, November and December 2012, to The Donna Foundation (in October), Second Harvest (in November), and the Joshua Frase Foundation (in December).  The Blood Aalliance also donated $5.00 for every 50 ePoints donated back by donors through its online Hero Rewards Store.  Additionally, special Veteran’s Day blood drives held on November 11, 2012 in South Carolina, SE Georgia and NE Florida raised money for Wounded Warrior Project. 

Second Harvest North Florida is very grateful to receive this generous donation of $4,136 from the Blood Alliance. This gift will allow Second Harvest to provide 28,952 meals to hungry men, women and children living in north Florida. 

Gleaning refers to the gathering of crops left behind after farmers are done harvesting. Crops may get left behind for several reasons. Sometimes food is left behind from a field that was mechanically harvested, or the food may not be worth the cost to the farmer due to labor cost or expected low profits from the market. However, the food that remains behind is still healthy and nutritious food that can be used. Gleaning is one of many things that Second Harvest North Florida does to help rescue food that can be used to feed those in need.

Second Harvest North Florda, along with 155 volunteers, recently partnered with Society of St. Andrews to help glean citrus from several host sites in the Jacksonville area.  The areas included: Chest Creek Church, Arlington UMC, Church of Jacksonville, Mandarin Presbyterian and Potters House.  

Although it was our first time conducting this type of event, the results were incredible. According to Director of Food Industry Relations Elliot Darkatsh, the project exceeded expectations. Darkatsh, who led the project was very satisfied with the result: 165 trees picked at 85 homes, yielding a whopping 21,250 pounds of fresh citrus. 

"Collecting the citrus is only half the job. Once the citrus is collected it must then be distributed. It gets distributed through our agency network the following week," Darkatsh said.  "We supply food to non-profits in 17 counties; including homeless shelter/feeding sites, church pantries, daycare centers, senior centers etc."

Second Harvest distributes to fruit to local agencies who place get it into the hands of the hungry men, women and children who need it. 

"The citrus gleaning contributes to a bigger picture in helping to reduce hunger in the community," Elliot explains. "It helps provide nutritious food to those that need it - often people eat the wrong type of food because they can't afford the fresh fruits and veggies. Not only did the citrus drive help to feed those in need, it also helps address certain health issues such as obesity, low brain activity/awareness levels and immune systems."

And this is just the beginning.

Going forward, Second Harvest intends to create a "gleaners' network."

"We are developing a  network of volunteers, to be able to pass opportunities along as they develop," Darkatsh said. "Usually there's at least one opportunity per month during the harvest season, which is Nov - June."

Additionally, Second Harvest plans to hold an annual gleaning event the week before the Super Bowl.

"This is the ideal time from a citrus season standpoint as well as when volunteers are available," Darkatsh said. "And it's a great family activity, as there's really no minimum age. It's not only a family memory to share, but also a good teaching tool about waste and community service."