From Staff Reports
In Summary:
A community partnership brought turkeys and Thanksgiving sides to Patmos Chapel in Apopka on November 12. Winn-Dixie and its charitable foundation joined Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and the church to distribute food to 500 families facing hunger. The event supported Second Harvest’s broader hunger relief efforts across seven Central Florida counties.
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A Thanksgiving meal begins long before families gather around the table. In Apopka on Thursday, it began with a community partnership aimed at making sure more families had a turkey and the sides to go with it.
Related: Florida’s forgotten feasts - The many contenders for America’s first Thanksgiving.
Winn-Dixie and the Winn-Dixie Gives Foundation teamed up with Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and Patmos Chapel on Nov. 12 for a holiday food distribution at the church, located at 110 Athletes Row. The effort was organized to provide traditional Thanksgiving meals for 500 local families facing hunger.
The “Feed Hope” distribution brought together the grocery retailer, its charitable foundation and local hunger relief partners ahead of a holiday that can place additional pressure on household food budgets. Turkeys and Thanksgiving sides were the focus, helping families prepare a holiday meal at home.
According to Second Harvest, the organization distributes enough food to provide 300,000 meals each day, but the need for assistance remains elevated. Partnerships with businesses and community organizations help the food bank meet that demand while supporting seasonal efforts such as Thanksgiving distributions.
The food bank works with more than 800 nonprofit feeding partners across seven Central Florida counties: Brevard, Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia. Its work includes securing and distributing food, investing in job training and advocating for access to nutritious meals.
For Winn-Dixie Gives, the Apopka event reflected the foundation’s focus on fighting hunger and strengthening communities across Florida and southern Georgia. The foundation supports those efforts through charitable giving, volunteer work and partnerships with organizations providing food and other assistance.
Thursday’s partnership brought that mission to Patmos Chapel with a straightforward goal: help families facing hunger make room for a Thanksgiving tradition.
To support Second Harvest’s hunger relief efforts or find food assistance, visit FeedHopeNow.org.
Key Points:
- The Thanksgiving food distribution took place Nov. 12 at Patmos Chapel, 110 Athletes Row in Apopka.
- Partners included Winn-Dixie, the Winn-Dixie Gives Foundation, Second Harvest, and Patmos Chapel.
- Organizers aimed to provide turkeys and traditional Thanksgiving sides for 500 local families.
- Second Harvest reports distributing enough food for 300,000 meals daily through a network of more than 800 nonprofit feeding partners.
- Residents can find food assistance or support hunger relief efforts at FeedHopeNow.org.
