By Cindy Peterson
Second Harvest Awarded $200,000 for Freezer Upgrade
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida recently received $200,000 in federal appropriations funding to enhance a vital component of its infrastructure.
On Monday, May 13, Congressman Maxwell Frost (D-FL 10th) presented Second Harvest president and CEO Derrick Chubbs with a check. The money will help the food bank purchase a new Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system, which will increase the efficiency of Second Harvest’s commercial freezer. The technology will also stabilize freezer temperatures in the event of equipment failure or power outages during natural disasters and better protect food from spoiling.
This upgrade not only strengthens Second Harvest’s ability to continue distributing high volumes of frozen foods and other perishable goods to neighbors facing hunger, but the energy cost savings will be invested in purchasing additional food to distribute to the community. One in eight Central Floridians – and one in five children – is at risk of experiencing hunger on any given day. Second Harvest is the region’s largest food bank and distributes enough food for 300,000 meals a day.
Originally from the small town of Berryville, Arkansas, Cindy has become a multimedia specialist in journalism, photography, videography, and video editing. She has a B.S. in Communications from the University of Central Arkansas and produces Style Magazine's Sports Hub Podcast and the Healthy Living Podcast. She also produces for Beacon College’s Telly Award-winning PBS show, “A World of Difference.” When she isn’t working, Cindy loves traveling the National Parks with her husband , Ryan, and son, David, photographing wildlife.
