Central Florida food bank tripling monetary donations on 407 Day
In honor of 407 Day, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida will triple every donated dollar, up to $50,000
TODAY IS 407 DAY AND EVERY YEAR THE CITY OF ORLANDO CELEBRATES APRIL 7TH IN HONOR OF OUR AREA CODE, WITH SAVINGS FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY. BUT TODAY IS NOT ONLY ABOUT CELEBRATING, IT’S ALSO ABOUT SUPPORTING OUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED. COST OF LIVING IS ON THE RISE, AND FOR MANY FAMILIES, THAT MEANS TOUGH CHOICES. AND THAT’S WHY SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL FLORIDA IS SENDING OUT A CALL TO ACTION. AND HERE TO TELL US ALL ABOUT IT IS DAN SAMUELS, THE DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY. OKAY, SO DAN, WELCOME TODAY. ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE YOU. IT’S GREAT TO BE HERE. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME BACK. ABSOLUTELY. OKAY, SO THE FOOD BANK TRIPLING MONETARY GIFTS TODAY UP TO $50,000. IS THAT RIGHT? IT IS TRUE. WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE DONOR WHO HAS PUT FORWARD A CHALLENGE MATCH FOR US TODAY. SO YOUR DONATION TODAY, UP TO $50,000 IS GOING TO BE TRIPLED THREE TIMES THE IMPACT, THREE TIMES THE NUMBER OF MEALS GOING OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY. OKAY. I LOVE THIS, DAN, AND IT’S EASY TO REMEMBER. IT’S 407 DAYS TO HELP OUT YOUR NEIGHBORS IN NEED. DAN, THESE ARE SOME OF THE EXAMPLES THAT WE WANTED TO SHOW OUR FOLKS IF THEY’RE WATCHING THIS. SO JUST TAKE US THROUGH WHAT YOU GUYS ARE LOOKING FOR THE FOOD BANK. YEAH. SO IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO GET INVOLVED AS FAR AS A FOOD DONOR, WE’RE LOOKING FOR THE THINGS AT YOUR HOME THAT YOU VALUE MOST WHEN YOU’RE MAKING A MEAL, WHETHER THAT’S PASTA AND SAUCE, PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY. IF IT’S THE CANNED VEGETABLES, THE CANNED PROTEINS, WHATEVER IT IS. THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF AN EMERGENCY BOX. SOME OF THE FOOD ITEMS THAT WE GIVE OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY. AND IN ADDITION TO THIS, YOU’RE ALSO GOING TO GET MEATS JUST LIKE YOU’D GET FROM THE GROCERY STORE. YOU’RE GOING TO GET FRESH PRODUCE, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES STRAIGHT FROM THE FARM. YOU’RE GOING TO GET DAIRY PRODUCTS, MILK, CHEESES, AS WELL AS BREADS. SO OUR GOAL IS TO REALLY FILL A FAMILY’S TABLE AND FILL THEIR PANTRY, JUST LIKE YOU AND I WOULD HAVE AT OUR HOME. MEREDITH. I LOVE THAT. DAN. AND SO IN ADDITION TO THE PANTRY ITEMS, YOU ALSO ENCOURAGE OUR VIEWERS ARE WATCHING THIS AND THEY’RE THINKING, HEY, WAIT A MINUTE. LIKE, YOU KNOW, I RUN A MEET, YOU KNOW, I RUN A STORE THAT I COULD DONATE SOME OF OUR MEAT OR OUR FRESH VEGETABLES. THAT’S OKAY TOO, RIGHT? YEAH. WE WOULD LOVE TO WORK WITH YOU ON THAT. WHEN IT COMES TO MEAT AND VEGETABLES, WE HAVE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS. JUST MAKING SURE FOOD SAFETY IS IN MIND. SO WOULD LOVE TO TALK WITH YOU. PLEASE REACH OUT TO US. AND IF YOU’RE GOING TO PUBLIX OR ALDI AND PICKING UP THE BOGOS, GO AHEAD AND BRING THOSE TO THE FOOD BANK AS WELL. WE WOULD LOVE TO HELP DISTRIBUTE THOSE ITEMS OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY. AWESOME. OKAY, SO TALK ABOUT THE CORRELATION HERE. JUST ABOUT 407 DAY AND YOU GUYS KIND OF LIKE, HEY, WAIT A MINUTE, THIS MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO KIND OF GET, GET OUR COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, THINKING AND TALKING ABOUT, ESPECIALLY AS WE HEAD INTO THE SUMMER SEASON. AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF KIDS WILL BE AT HOME AND NEEDING MEALS. YEAH. SO 407 DAY IS ALL ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER AND MEREDITH, WE’VE SEEN IT WITH SHARE YOUR CHRISTMAS AND GIVING TUESDAY. OUR COMMUNITY IS SO INCREDIBLY GENEROUS AND GIVES BACK IN SUCH A MEANINGFUL WAY. AND SO ON. 407 DAY AS WE CELEBRATE OUR ORLANDO, WE’RE HOPING OUR COMMUNITY WILL NOT ONLY SHOP LOCAL AND EAT LOCAL, BUT ALSO GIVE LOCALLY, GIVE TO FAMILIES RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, WHETHER THAT BE IN BREVARD, VOLUSIA. MARION, ORLANDO HELP TO BE ABLE TO FEED THESE FAMILIES, JUST LIKE WE’RE GOING OUT TO FEED OURSELVES AND ENJOY OUR TIME IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL. AND DAN, YOU SAID IT. THAT’S SUCH A GOOD REMINDER. FOLKS ARE WATCHING FROM BREVARD THIS MORNING. VOLUSIA-FLAGLER, WHEREVER YOU ARE, THOSE DONATIONS THAT ALL STAYS IN YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, IT DOES. IF YOU’RE MAKING A DONATION IN BREVARD COUNTY, THAT’S GOING TO GO HELP THE 1 IN 7 COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN BREVARD COUNTY OR MARION COUNTY OR VOLUSIA COUNTY WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HUNGER AS WELL. AND DAN, HAS THIS BEEN A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN FOR YOU GUYS IN THE PAST 407 DAY YEAH, IT REALLY HAS BECAUSE OUR COMMUNITY, AS WE SAID, STEPS UP EVERY TIME. YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SO MANY FAMILIES WHO ARE JUST ONE THING AWAY FROM NEEDING THAT LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA HELP. AND BECAUSE OF OUR COMMUNITY, WE’RE ABLE TO HELP THE WORKING CLASS MOM OR THE FAMILY MEMBER WHO’S TRYING TO DECIDE, DO I PAY FOR GAS TO GET TO WORK, OR DO I NEED TO BE ABLE TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR MY FAMILY? OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO STEP UP, AND I’M SURE THEY WILL STEP UP AGAIN TODAY. AND DAN, WHERE CAN EVERYONE LEARN MORE, ESPECIALLY IF THEY WANT TO MAKE A DONATION OR DONATE? JUST GET INVOLVED. EVEN VOLUNTEER PERHAPS? YEAH, SO YOU CAN LEARN ALL OF THIS EITHER ON WESH.COM OR AT OUR WEBSITE FEED HOPE NOW.ORG. AND ALSO, IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN NEED OF FOOD ASSISTANCE, THAT’S ALSO A PLACE YOU CAN GO TO FIND LOCAL FOOD NEAR YOU. YES. DAN, BRING UP A GOOD POINT. ANYONE THAT MIGHT NEED ASSISTANCE RIGHT NOW, WHAT IS WHAT IS YOUR BEST ADVICE FOR THEM? YEAH, I WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYBODY WHO’S IN NEED OF FOOD ASSISTANCE TO GO TO OUR WEBSITE. WE HAVE OUR FOOD FINDER TOOL ON THERE WITH OVER 800 FEEDING PARTNERS THAT ARE ALL IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, SPREAD OUT AMONGST ALL SEVEN COUNTIES, TO BE ABLE TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY, WHO NEEDS IT? ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TYPE IN YOUR ADDRESS AND IT WILL SHOW YOU ALL OF THE PANTRIES NEAR YOU AND HOW YOU CAN GET IN CONTACT WITH THEM TO GET FOOD ASSISTANCE. EXCELLENT. DAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. GREAT TO SEE YOU. OKAY. WELL, BEST WISHES ON THIS CAMPAIGN.
Central Florida food bank tripling monetary donations on 407 Day
In honor of 407 Day, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida will triple every donated dollar, up to $50,000
Updated: 9:55 AM EDT Apr 7, 2026
In honor of 407 Day, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida will triple every donated dollar, up to $50,000.The food bank is asking donors to lend a hand and help provide meals for neighbors facing food insecurity.The organization’s director of philanthropy Dan Samuels joins WESH 2 to detail the initiative and community impact.Click here to donate and learn more.
In honor of 407 Day, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida will triple every donated dollar, up to $50,000.
The food bank is asking donors to lend a hand and help provide meals for neighbors facing food insecurity.
The organization’s director of philanthropy Dan Samuels joins WESH 2 to detail the initiative.