Feeding America

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Despite signs of economic recovery, record numbers of families in North Florida and across America are currently relying on food assistance.  In fact, one in eight Americans will receive help in 2012 from food banks.  And among the most needed items are sources of high quality protein.

The effort is sponsored by Feeding America, the national association of food banks of which Second Harvest is a member, to raise awareness for the fight against hunger - and to show people just how big a contribution can make when they consider how much they spend each month on certain non-essentials, then donate an equal amount of money to provide meals.

Help Second Harvest by donating money, food or time - or by encouraging your business, organization or place of worship to partner with Second Harvest in helping to eliminate hunger for our neighbors.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – When? Where? How? More than 342,000 individuals wake up each morning in north Florida asking these very questions about their next opportunity to eat. Among that total is more than 117,000 children under the age of 18.

Hungry children cannot thrive. Yet millions of kids in America are at risk of going hungry.

Hungry children are disadvantaged children. They can’t grow, develop and learn like other kids. They have trouble focusing and getting along. They complain often of headaches, stomachaches and other ailments. They fall behind in virtually every way.

A landmark study released today by Second Harvest North Florida and Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, reports that more than 170,700 people receive emergency food each year through Second Harvest and the agencies it serves in north Florida.*