Hope CommUnity Center sponsoring month-long food drive for families with young children

Most people understand that there are hungry kids in America. But how many?

According to the website nokidhungry.org,  one in seven children lives with hunger. According to USDA research, 11 million children live in food-insecure homes. It's staggering data in a country as prosperous as the United States, and it's a problem that gets even worse when the school year ends.

But in Apopka, and throughout Orange County, there is help.

The Hope CommUnity Center is sponsoring a food drive all month (May 2nd through June 3rd) to aid families with young children that are losing their free lunch and food support with the end of the school year.

"It's a calling to help others," said Nilka Melendez, the Director of Youth and Family for the Hope CommUnity Center. "It's not about poverty; it's about seeing a need in the moment, and how do we respond to that need? It's also about making connections and honoring the people of the community."

The drop off locations for the food drive are:

The following items are requested for donation:

• Dried and Canned Pinto and Black Beans
• Plain White Rice
• Cereal 
• Pancake Mix
• Pancake Syrup
• Mazeca Corn Flour - other corn flour, not cornmeal
• White Flour
• Canned Tuna Fish
• Canned Chicken
• Shelf Stable Milk
• Pre-Packaged Tortillas
• Snack and Granola Bars
• Peanut Butter
• Dried Pasta - any kind
• Baby Food
• Baby Formula
• Diapers - all sizes

The Hope CommUnity Center fosters diverse, empowered learning communities engaged in personal and societal transformation. Through service and advocacy, we stand together with immigrants and others who are tenacious and courageous in the face of all systems of oppression. To learn more about other services and programs, please visit our website, www.hcc-offm.org/.