Leaders and volunteers from AdventHealth, United Way of Central Florida, Hands for the Homeless and the community worked together to distribute more than 9400 pounds of food to people in need.
Organizers said all the food and drinks boxed up by dozens of volunteers would feed hundreds of people.
SEBRING, Fla., — Dozens of volunteers from AdventHealth, United Way of Central Florida and Hands for the Homeless distributed more than 9400 pounds of food to hundreds of people in need in Avon Park.
The event served as the kickoff for AdventHealth and United Way Central Florida’s new partnership to help make sure families in need across Highlands County have access to nutritional meals amid rising food costs through the “United Way End Hunger Initiative.”
According to United Way of Central Florida, recent data shows Highlands County’s food insecurity rate is 13.3 percent, including more than 3,000 children. That rate is higher than the most recently released state average, which a USDA report placed at 12 percent.
As part of the vital efforts to help community members struggling with food insecurity, Jason Dunkel, President and CEO of AdventHealth Sebring, Lake Placid and Wauchula, approved an agreement to fully fund the annual costs for all three United Way of Central Florida End Hunger Sites in Highlands County through February 2026, ensuring the sites will be able to continue service in the community
“Many families in our community are struggling to keep up with the increasing costs of food and other crucial items they need every day, so it is our honor to partner with United Way of Central Florida to help thousands of our neighbors in need,” Dunkel said. "The mission of AdventHealth is to extend the healing ministry of Christ by providing exceptional whole-person care and being fully engaged in helping the communities we serve feel whole.”
Today, (Thursday, April 3) the non-profit Feeding Tampa Bay dropped off a semi-truck load of food, which was then divided by volunteers and boxed for distribution. Organizers at Hands for the Homeless said the more than 9400 pounds of food, handed out by volunteers, will feed nearly 1000 people.
“This has been the most rewarding opportunity. It was motivating, uplifting and we’re so grateful to have this opportunity to help people in our community,” said Casie Miller, Imaging Manager at AdventHealth Lake Placid, who volunteered at the event.
Dozens of people lined up in their cars as early as 7 a.m. to get their box of food, which AdventHealth and United Way leaders said shows how critical the need is for so many families.
"Together, the United Way of Central Florida and AdventHealth are making a profound impact on those struggling to make ends meet,” said Christina Criser Jackson, President and CEO of United Way of Central Florida. “By supporting healthy food pantries in Highlands County, AdventHealth is not only providing nourishment but offering a vital hand up, ensuring families have access to nutritious food. Together, they are fostering hope, strengthening communities, and building a healthier, more resilient future for all."
The United Way End Hunger Initiative features a large mobile food pantry, aiming to improve food insecurity in Highlands County in partnership with the non-profit Feeding Tampa Bay. The bi-weekly distributions at three sites in Highlands County annually serve nearly 566,000 pounds of food to 46,000 residents, including 13,000 families, all with the help of 1,900 volunteers.
“Food insecurity is a health crisis and increasing access to healthy foods gives children the brainpower to learn, seniors the nutrients needed to stay healthy, and families the stability needed to thrive,” said Lauren Key, AdventHealth West Florida Division senior executive officer for consumer strategy and Feeding Tampa Bay Board member. “The majority of people dealing with food insecurity are working families trying to make ends meet and we are thankful to have the opportunity to help them as much as possible through this collaborative initiative.”
The local sites where the food is distributed are Hands for the Homeless in Avon Park (Every first and third Thursday of the month at 9:30 a.m.), South Oak First Baptist Church in Lake Placid (Every second and fourth Thursday at 9:00 a.m.), and First Sebring Methodist Church in Sebring, (Every first and third Saturday at 9:30 a.m.).
To learn more about The United Way of Central Florida’s End Hunger Initiative you can go to https://uwcf.org/initiatives/endhunger/
To learn more about AdventHealth, please visit www.adventhealth.com.
To learn more about Feeding Tampa Bay, please visit www.feedingtampabay.org