Coronavirus Update: March 1, 2021.
COVID-19 presented a complex crisis of increasing demand, declining food donations, and reimagining how to safely distribute food to those in need. Central Florida is experiencing a persistent and elevated need now and will continue to as this recovery will take years.
Families who hadn't known hunger before the pandemic can no longer afford groceries. Searches for food assistance on our website have soared from an average of 35 to 300 a day in the past year.
More than 300,000 meals are being provided every day to the six-county service area; roughly double the daily distribution before the crisis hit.
It is the trust and generosity of donors, like you, that has enabled us to aggressively scale relief efforts and continue fighting hunger. But our work is far from complete. Millions of our neighbors still struggle to access the nourishment of a meal, with all signs pointing towards needs increasing in the months to come. At the same time, expenses continue to rise due to COVID-related restrictions and logistical challenges.
Your generosity has made an incredible difference in the past and we hope you will continue to partner with us to ensure hope remains for those who struggle to access food. Thank you for trusting us with this important work and joining us in the fight against hunger.
If you are in need of food assistance, please visit our online food locator to find a list of feeding partners near you. Click here to read frequently asked food assistance questions. Please make sure to call before heading to the distribution, to make sure that the hours or location has not changed. If you need assistance during the weekend, please call United Way's 2-1-1.
The loss of economic activity continues to impact thousands of hourly workers and their families. More will be impacted in the months ahead. Can you help to make sure that our neighbors can access food and hope in their moment of greatest need? Your $10 gift will provide 40 meals.