Second Harvest of the Big Bend food bank serves as one of Feeding America’s three emergency food distribution hubs in Florida. As such, we contribute to the statewide coordination of emergency food and water in response to disasters.
As part of the Big Bend COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disasters) which includes the Red Cross, Salvation Army, the Emergency Operations Center, Volunteer Leon, Big Bend 211 and others, Second Harvest provides food, water and other necessities both before and after a crisis or disaster. Second Harvest also works in conjunction with Feeding Florida and its other 11- member food banks to cover disaster situations throughout the entire state of Florida.
In our 41,000-square-foot warehouse, we are able to stage supplies for our fellow COAD members to supplement their supply chains. In conjunction with Feeding Florida, Second Harvest also stores disaster relief product for the Florida Department of Emergency Management.
During the Coronavirus pandemic, we provided emergency food assistance to an additional 52,000 Big Bend neighbors who were impacted by the ongoing crisis, which increased the food insecurity in our service area by almost 50%.
Feeding America Map the Meal Gap Food Insecurity Projections; 2020 & 2021
Food banks often work collaboratively, across state lines, during disaster situations. Second Harvest has assisted with the following disaster response efforts: COVID-19 pandemic, Hurricane Hermine, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Michael, Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Matthew (North & South Carolina), Hurricane Harvey (Texas), the Eastpoint fires, and flooding in southern Louisiana.
After Hurricane Michael struck our region in 2018, we distributed 1,586,850 pounds in disaster relief that October. Monetary donations for disaster relief can be made online. Donations will be used to purchase much- needed food items and cleaning supplies.