Food programs introduced at two Marion County schools

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida recently introduced the School Partnerships Program at East Marion and College Park Elementary Schools. [Photo courtesy Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida]

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida recently expanded hunger relief programming in Marion County by launching its first new service line since merging with First Step Food Bank in November 2022.

With one in six children at risk of experiencing hunger on any given day in Central Florida, the School Partnerships Program offers a student-centered, stigma-reducing approach to increasing access to nutritious food, the news release noted.

Second Harvest recently launched the School Partnerships Program at East Marion and College Park Elementary Schools in Ocala. Both schools will operate two models:
• Campus Pantry: Students and their families will have access to a pantry of nonperishable food items to grab and eat or bring home to prepare for dinner.
• Fresh Market: Each month the schools will receive fresh produce for students to take home for their families. It may be the first introduction of certain fruits and vegetables.

“Kids can’t focus without consistent access to the nutritious food they need to learn, grow and thrive,” said Derrick Chubbs, president and CEO at Second Harvest, in the news release. “By working directly with schools like East Marion Elementary and College Park Elementary, we can reach children where they are. No child should worry about where their next meal will come from.”

SHFBCF distributes food and grocery products to more than 750 local nonprofit feeding partners throughout Brevard, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia counties.

For more information, go to feedhopenow.org