Local CARES Act Funding Helps Feed Orange County Families

Food insecurity in Central Florida is estimated to be at a historic high due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with nearly one in five residents having trouble accessing healthy and nourishing food.

Orange County Government has partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, and is providing more than $6 million of federal CARES Act Relief funding to ensure more food resources are distributed to its community feeding partner programs.

“Nothing comes close to the demand that exists right now with COVID-19 relief,” said Dave Krepcho, President and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. “Funding from Orange County has enabled our nonprofit to meet the greater demand in our community during this time. If it had not been for the access to CARES Act funding, we would have missed the opportunity to provide three to five million meals for Orange County residents alone.”

There are 235 partner programs across the County, which include local food pantries, soup kitchens, women’s shelters, senior centers, day care centers and Kids Cafes.

To find a feeding partner program near you, visit Second Harvest’s online Food Locator.

For more information on Orange County Government allocating local CARES Act funds, visit ocfl.net/OrangeCares.