Food Banks Fight Hunger and Help Economy in Local Communities
Cindy O’Sullivan
Strayer University
ENG 115 Composition
Professor Tamra Martin
November 3, 2013

Imagine if all our communities in Central Florida could provide consistent food and assistance for those in need. Hunger should not be overlooked in such an abundant country. Children need food to develop and grow. Other individuals may need food so they be healthy and maintain or reenter as constructive contributing members of the community. This part of Florida might just have the solution. The mission of The Second Harvest Food Bank is to promote and support development of their partner agencies and fulfill their mission of a hunger free Central Florida. (Second Harvest Food Bank, 2013). Food banks not only provide food for hungry children from low income families but also those in the community who have come upon hard economic times. Once a person has been fed adequately they may then take on their next challenge in life, maybe finding shelter, a place in the community and for some employment. Once they are able to care for themselves, they are more apt to give back to the community, thus helping the local economy. Despite today’s unstable economy, high unemployment and what seems an obvious need, there have been many closures of local assistance programs making availability of services for this population increasingly difficult. Some of our affected community members have never had to apply for help in the past, and need direct help with that process. Referrals are another vital and valuable service provided where participants are sent to a network of agencies depending on their assessed needs. Additional services offered by SHFB include direct disaster relief, responding to floods, tornadoes and hurricanes. Duties include mobilizing leaders and services in the community specific to situations and solutions. SHFB also has available a Community Kitchen that involves a holistic approach to hunger relief and offers Employment Training Skills to adults. The solution of available food banks is very encouraging, however there are communities in America that seem opposed to helping in this effort. For example let’s use Big Sky, Montana, considered an upscale skiing community. They are currently in the process of opening a new food bank. In a news article posted December 12, 2012 by MTN Missoula news, a person who didn’t want their name mentioned stated “If you can’t afford to live in Big Sky, then don’t” (anonomyous, 2012). Others in this same community feel very different about the situation. Some work two jobs in order to survive and continue residing there. Until now the closest food bank was more than 60 miles away and not on a bus route said Ann Marie Mistretta with the Big Sky Community Food Bank (Mistretta, 2012). This would seem to validate an immediate need for such a program. Second Harvest Food Bank states “1 in 5 Central Floridians are struggling with the reality of hunger and food insecurity” (Second Harvest Food Bank, 2013). The stories of those who have received helped range from children to the elderly. One teacher had a young man (a starving student) able to get food packs from the Food Bank. Another example was a man who came from Puerto Rico to pursue a job that fell through. He found himself homeless and hungry. He was assisted by the Food Bank and went on to college. He continues to volunteer his time for this cause that has obviously helped him. The Food Bank receives most of their food from donations and food distributors who cannot sell to the public because the items are under industry standards yet the products are perfectly healthy and nutritious especially perishables such as fruits and vegetables. All products are inspected before distribution. The bank collects items and contributes to their partner agencies. During the 2011/2012 fiscal year, the program donated 15,237,498 pounds of food (Second Harvest Food Bank, 2013). These are great stories that touch the hearts of many, however in a story by John Robson titled It Doesn’t Amount to a Hill of Beans, (Robson, 2005/2006) argues they aren’t necessarily getting a balanced diet from the Food Banks. Those donating don’t know what the bank already has on their shelves. A food that is singularly nutritious and everyone knows it and soon everyone gives the same food might be harmful meaning the families only get one kind of food all the time. This is not a balanced diet. Robson suggests writing a check instead of giving the food. In conclusion it would seems apparent the value and benefits of food banks to battle the problem of hunger and need in our Central Florida communities. Rather than just throw money blindly at the problem, support an already successful organized, efficient program of relief an involvement.