ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Summer is here and while some families may be excited about the end of the school year, others are working harder to make ends meet with their kids at home.
One of the biggest needs: food.
But there is a program stocking pantries for free and all it takes is a visit to your local library.
“I’ve got a place to stay, as the song says, a roof over my head, shoes on my feet. I need food on the table,” Anna Chintaman said.
For 73-year-old Chintaman, it’s all about independence. So she’s walked out of the Chickasaw Branch library carrying a box filled with food.
“It does lift a burden that I have some more food because it’s always needed and things are harder to get these days,” Chintaman said.
In partnership with the Orange County Library System, The Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida delivers stacks of boxes each week to several branches throughout Orange County to help those in need.
“We’re seeing that one in eight of our neighbors are experiencing hunger for any number of reasons,” Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida Communications Manager Erika Spence said.
Spence said one of the biggest reasons is inflation. That’s something Angel Aloneso said is making it difficult for him and his family to make ends meet.
“It’s a really good experience because it helps people in the community a little bit. It won’t cover everything for the family but even [a box of food] is a big help,” Aloneso said.
The boxes are first come, first served for anyone, free of charge. Every Tuesday morning at five of OCLS’s branches. No paperwork to fill out. No reservations need to be made. You don’t even need a library card.
The program is funded by the Orange County Government and provides about a week’s worth of non-perishable food items like pasta, beans, canned meat, pancake mix, vegetables and more to help feed families and stock empty pantries. The food expected to last a person about week The library, a prime location for community members.
“We want to be where people are. If it’s no convenient for you to access food at a food pantry that’s miles away from your house, but the library’s part of your routine, we want to be there,” Spence said. “It makes me feel great that we’re able to support our neighbors in whatever challenges they’re facing whether it’s loss of income, or loss of housing or loss of a spouse.”
Victoria Zacktan has been taking advantage of the free food boxes after her husband passed away.
“When he died, I lost a second fixed income, so it’s been super tight and knowing this resource is here, it’s really been a help to me,” Zacktan said. “People do need to take advantage of it.”
Here are the branches where the food boxes are delivered every Tuesday at 10 a.m.
- Chickasaw - 870 N. Chickasaw Trail - Orlando, FL, 32825
- Fairview Shores - 902 Lee Road, Suite 26 - Orlando, FL, 32810
- Hiawassee - 7391 W. Colonial Drive - Orlando, FL, 32818
- North Orange - 1211 E. Semoran Blvd. - Apopka, FL, 32703
- South Trail - 4600 S. Orange Blossom Trail - Orlando, FL, 32839
This summer, Orange County Public Schools Food & Nutrition Services is touring your city to offer meals at no charge to children and young adults 18 and under.
The OCPS Mobile Lunch Vehicles are part of the USDA Summer Food Service Program, Summer BreakSpot. Lunches will only be offered to children and young adults 18 and under. Meals must be consumed on the premises. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Lunch is served Monday-Friday (no meals will be served on Wednesday, June 19, and Thursday, July 4).
- Chickasaw Branch: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Fairview Shores Branch: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
- Hiawassee Branch: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
- South Creek Branch: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
- North Orange Branch: 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
- South Trail Branch: 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Check out the Florida Foodie podcast. You can find every episode in the media player below: