Today is National Super Hero Day! It has been so inspiring to see our communities come together to support one another through these unprecedented times. While many of us are doing our part by staying home, we have all seen and heard of the heroic efforts by those working to keep us safe and healthy.
Thank you to all of the essential workers in our communities – our doctors, nurses, hospital staff, first responders, delivery, grocery and culinary workers for all that you’re doing for our communities – you are our Super Heroes!
Many nonprofits also are continuing to provide critical support and resources to our communities. Today, we’d like to recognize a few of these organizations that are continuing operations while the need for their services continues to grow.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida has been hard at work supporting the local community the past several weeks, distributing enough food for 5.5 million meals. To reach as many neighbors throughout Central Florida as possible, they have deployed 50 mobile pantries to high-need areas reaching across six counties. This effort has also helped supplement school distributions with fresh produce, allowing summer programs for kids to start up two months early, which will help fight hunger and feed hope for local children and families.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, California has been preparing since late February to support increased community needs given the impact on local schools, businesses, college students and seniors in all 34 cities of Orange County. They’ve increased their inventory by over 40% to meet demand, added a weekly food box delivery program servicing over 10,000 seniors and after school meal sites coupled with a drive thru distribution that serves over 4,500 households weekly. Additionally, Second Harvest also continues to service 291 food distribution sites throughout the county.
USO Central Florida has been taking care of more than 2,500 National Guard members as they respond and support on the front lines to fight COVID-19. National Guard members have moved into Florida to assist in testing centers and at hospitals. USO volunteers also shared a little bit of Disney magic with the USCG Port Canaveral team by delivering some care packages and treats to military workers and their families.
Anaheim Family YMCA started the Grab and Go meal program from the back door of the Y the day California issued its stay at home orders. What started with 50 meals to Anaheim youth and their families has grown to 27,000 meals from 23 distribution locations and with the help of donated buses from the Anaheim Resort Area they’re making deliveries to neighborhoods. The Y is also providing virtual tutoring, a Homework Hotline, and working on their latest edition of their Academic, Enrichment and Community Resource booklet that has been dubbed by one 4th grader as the ‘Boredom Buster’ activity packet!
To all our Super Heroes – we thank you!
