Everything is so expensive right now,” Cary said. “For a lot of people in America right now, a meal is a choice between food and other critical needs like housing, health care (and) transportation. “So, that number is still up for us,” Cary said.Ĭary, who grew up in Orange County, noted that residents often see the county as an affluent area where many people may not “think about our neighbors facing food insecurity.” The pandemic, she added, has exposed the difficulties in securing meals for one’s family when he or she has suddenly lost a job or is experiencing health issues. Photo: Courtesy of Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange Countyĭana Point was one of 30 in Orange County to officially issue a proclamation in recognition of Hunger Action Month.Īccording to Cary, Second Harvest sees an average of about 332,000 people each month, up from the 249,000 individuals served prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Second Harvest, located in Irvine by the Great Park, is always looking for volunteers to help at its distribution center or the Harvest Solutions Farm. The nonprofit works with OC Food Bank in Garden Grove and a third organization, Abound Food Care, to form the OC Hunger Alliance. Second Harvest, based in Irvine, is one of two food banks in Orange County. “So, we’ve partnered together as the OC Hunger Alliance to reach out to our city governments and our county as well.”

“Hunger Action Month is a national campaign to bring awareness to food and nutritional insecurity,” Cary said. “One in 11 people right now in Orange County is food-insecure, and that includes one in eight children,” Cary said.Īcknowledging that September was nearly over, Cary explained how OC Hunger Alliance comprises multiple nonprofits that partnered together. 20 meeting presented Malia Cary, the Government and Public Affairs coordinator for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, with a proclamation, recognizing the nonprofit’s efforts to feed residents in need. The Dana Point City Council this month recognized September as Hunger Action Month-a nationwide “Feeding America” campaign to bring awareness to those facing food insecurity. Learn more about our new Insider’s program here. That’s why the SC Times is now turning to you for financial support. Today, our business model has been interrupted by the pandemic the vast majority of our advertisers’ businesses have been impacted.

We want to provide informative and inspirational stories that connect you to the people, issues and opportunities within our community. 'She saved my life.The article you’re about to read is from our reporters doing their important work - investigating, researching, and writing their stories. 'I will remember it the rest of my life.' 'There is a permanent bond with Bette,' Jess said. 'You changed my life, my dear,' Bette said to Jess. I have this beautiful view, and I look out, and the first person I thank is her, of course.' 'I remember holding on to you, and I remember saying, 'please don't leave me.' I cannot express to her. 'Some of it is a blur, but I remember your face,' Bette continued, turning to Jess. 'I heard her voice, and I thought, 'oh my gosh, I'm gonna be saved.'' 'You can get pretty lonely when you're on the floor for three days,' Bette explained, sitting next to Jess. Tuesday, Jess got a chance to check in on Bette. In the weeks that followed, Jess continued the deliveries but wanted to know so badly if Bette was okay. I didn't know if she was going to make it in the condition she was in.' From there, I made the emergency calls and stayed with her. 'Whenever she saw me, I could see the shock and the horror in her face. She'd fallen and had been there for three days. Bette shouted 'yes.' Inside, Jess saw Bette lying in a doorway. 'I just heard murmurs that sounded distressed,' Jess said. There was a day Jess came to drop off a food box and knew something was wrong. 'I take it very seriously and love it.'Īmong the familiar faces on Jess's delivery route is a woman named Bette White. 'It's an honor to be able to feed people,' Jess said. 'I go around Davidson County and deliver food boxes to senior citizens.'ĭoing that kind of work, Jess has learned every interaction with someone matters. 'We serve urban, rural, everything in between,' Jess said. It's all part of working for Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.

When Jess is done with one place, it's off to the next one. 'A lot of waiting for elevators in my day.' 'Here we go!' Jess smiled, stacking boxes onto a cart and heading into an apartment complex. What happened next will be remembered by that worker forever. (WTVF) - What do you do when your work day is suddenly thrust into an emergency situation that could be a matter of life and death? That's the situation in which a worker found themselves during what was supposed to be a routine delivery.

Second harvest food bank