Holiday Food Event Serves Hundreds of Families

More than 50,000 pounds of grocery products were distributed to local needy families on December 20 and 21 as part of the annual holiday food distribution event that started five years ago in partnership with local schools due to support from the Winter Park Health Foundation (WPHF).

The event, which has been adding partners and distribution sites in recent years, involved six schools this school year–Evans High School, Cheney, Hungerford, Ivey Lane and Winegard elementary schools and the Winter Park 9th Grade Center.

Key partners included the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, First United Methodist Church of Orlando, Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) Food & Nutrition Services Department, Orange County School Nutrition Association and WPHF.

At Hungerford, Cheney and the Winter Park 9th Grade Center, people walked, rode bikes and came in cars to pick up the food meant to help keep cupboards stocked during the holidays when school is not in session. The Hungerford, Cheney and 9th Grade Center sites served families from all WPHF Coordinated Youth Initiative partner schools.

Staff members from the OCPS Food & Nutrition Services Department helped bag the groceries and place them in vehicles and carts. They were aided in some cases by students, teachers and school administrators, including Dave Stanley, principal of the Winter Park Ninth Grade Center and a WPHF trustee.