Through my time in working with Second Harvest, i’ve seen the ways the bank shows their solidarity with all those they work to aid. Theres never a distinction made to the identity of those who work for the bank and those they feed in Central Florida. In the photo I have attached is a chalkboard in the break room that breaks down who’s hungry in Central Florida, including: senior citizens, children, parents, families, the homeless, the disabled and someone you might know. Hunger is more prevalent in America than we might think, and by reiterating that around the bank, it encourages more and more volunteers to help out where they can to support those in need of help.
Solidarity is not only seen through those within the bank, but also externally. With the COVID-19 pandemic, funding and donations reached new record levels from donors to help fund the increased need for necessities of those who’s working hours, health, and paychecks fluctuated. Like stated in my previous blog, the new number of individuals reliant on the food bank has never truly went down since the pandemic, and these donors’ support and knowledge of those who suffered as a result of the pandemic helps in a multitude of ways.
Through my time with meeting with coordinators, my eyes have opened on how hands on everyone is to make people’s stories told, in a financial report I was given by the Director of Philanthropy of Second Harvest Food Bank, there’s real person accounts on how the bank has supported individuals through thick and thin and their personal stories of how they became reliant on the bank’s services.
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