While summer brings fun and freedom for many children, it also creates a dangerous gap for thousands of Central Florida kids who depend on school meals. To help bridge that gap, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida has launched a new pilot model of its Summer Food Service Program in Lake County, designed to reach families in rural communities who might otherwise go without.

Traditionally, Second Harvest delivers meals to partner sites where children attend summer programs, ensuring they receive breakfast and lunch while on location. This summer, however, the organization is testing a more flexible option: families can visit one of two designated Lake County sites once a week to pick up a meal box with 14 complete meals—seven breakfasts and seven lunches—for each child.

During a recent distribution event, 211 children received boxes, equivalent to just under 3,000 meals in a single day. Funding support comes from No Kid Hungry Florida, whose program manager Joshua Proffit emphasized the importance of accessibility.

“Families in rural communities often experience additional challenges when it comes to accessing resources such as summer meal programs,” Joshua says. “That’s why flexible meal options are so important to ensure more kids receive the nutrition they need, no matter where they live.”

The pilot program is already demonstrating its value and impact, and Second Harvest hopes it could serve as a model for expanding outreach across other underserved regions in Florida.

To learn more or support Second Harvest’s mission, visit FeedHopeNow.org.

Photos provided by Second Harvest