As prices on gas and groceries go up, Second Harvest Food Bank said the need continues to be significant, with the nonprofit organization hosting two to three mobile distributions a day. Volunteers like Leslie Sikorski help make sure the food bank and its partners can keep families fed across seven different counties. Sikorski retired from Disney after 42 years. Instead of taking it slow, she volunteers about four days a week. “She has been so amazing, 300 hours just in 2026, 1700 volunteer hours in just the last couple of years,” said Mindy Ortiz, the director of volunteer services. Ortiz said that thanks to the volunteers, they don’t have to pay as many staff and can focus resources on food. “We had 42,000 volunteers walk through our doors last year. That’s about $4.2 million that the food bank saved. It saved us from hiring about 61 employees,” she said.>> Download the WESH 2 app to stay up-to-date on breaking news and weatherFor Sikorski, the volunteer time is rewarding. “It’s amazing to come face to face with the people that you’re actually helping, and you could just see in their faces how much they really appreciate everything we’re doing for them, because they would probably go hungry if it weren’t for what we’re doing.” Anyone in your family can help. Volunteers can start as young as 10 years old for a three-hour shift. Once a month, they do a family shift where 5 to 9-year-olds can participate, but they keep those shifts a little shorter at just two hoursIf you are interested in volunteering, you can find more information here. Second Harvest Food Bank is hosting its annual Ultimate Garden Party, which is one of its larger fundraisers. Tickets are still available. >> Video below: Ultimate Garden Party benefitting Second Harvest Food Bank

ORLANDO, Fla. —

As prices on gas and groceries go up, Second Harvest Food Bank said the need continues to be significant, with the nonprofit organization hosting two to three mobile distributions a day.

Volunteers like Leslie Sikorski help make sure the food bank and its partners can keep families fed across seven different counties.

Sikorski retired from Disney after 42 years. Instead of taking it slow, she volunteers about four days a week.

“She has been so amazing, 300 hours just in 2026, 1700 volunteer hours in just the last couple of years,” said Mindy Ortiz, the director of volunteer services.

Ortiz said that thanks to the volunteers, they don’t have to pay as many staff and can focus resources on food.

“We had 42,000 volunteers walk through our doors last year. That’s about $4.2 million that the food bank saved. It saved us from hiring about 61 employees,” she said.

>> Download the WESH 2 app to stay up-to-date on breaking news and weather

For Sikorski, the volunteer time is rewarding.

“It’s amazing to come face to face with the people that you’re actually helping, and you could just see in their faces how much they really appreciate everything we’re doing for them, because they would probably go hungry if it weren’t for what we’re doing.”

Anyone in your family can help. Volunteers can start as young as 10 years old for a three-hour shift. Once a month, they do a family shift where 5 to 9-year-olds can participate, but they keep those shifts a little shorter at just two hours

If you are interested in volunteering, you can find more information here.

Second Harvest Food Bank is hosting its annual Ultimate Garden Party, which is one of its larger fundraisers. Tickets are still available.

>> Video below: Ultimate Garden Party benefitting Second Harvest Food Bank