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Second Harvest Food Bank serves thousands More than 30 children in April sat in a special enclosed area of Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill at South Coast Plaza and finished off large portions of French fries, hamburgers and chicken strips. They were hungry. And, more than most, they knew it. The children had come to the restaurant to enjoy a free meal and to serve as a reminder that hunger affects more than 400,000 residents in Orange County. But this special day for them would pay dividends beyond a single meal. Z’Tejas, in April, raised about $4,000 for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County by selling a special dish and donating 50% of the proceeds. The children eating their meals are served by two agencies supported by Second Harvest, and this is one way the nonprofit works with businesses to raise money and awareness. “We’re very happy to be partnering with Z’Tejas, because it’s through efforts such as this in the community that we’re able to raise funds for the programs, that are right in line with our mission of eliminating hunger throughout Orange County,” says Monica Horner, development manager. “It’s only through community support such as this that we’re able to do this.” Hunger, like homelessness, is hard to identify in Orange County. But that does not make it any less real. Horner says that 456,000 county residents are at risk each month of missing meals. Adds spokesman Robert Wright, “Through a recent study that we did, 36% of those that use the services of the food bank are children. They’re the ones who don’t have any choice in the situation that they are in. They’re there.” According to Second Harvest, about 80,000 children receive food from the agency each month in Orange County. Horner says it is crucial to keep the message front and center in affluent Orange County. “We have PR events; the media is a great tool to spread awareness. It’s called the ‘hidden hunger issue.’ There are people who struggle day to day. They have to choose between paying rent or buying food for themselves and their family. Or purchasing medication and paying rent.” Since its founding in 1983, Second Harvest has provided more than 217 million pounds of donated and surplus food to local charities. It serves nearly 400 organizations that reach the hungry, including church pantries, shelters, senior centers, rehabilitation centers, homes for abused children and other emergency assistance organizations. Those who receive food, besides children, include the working poor, seniors on fixed incomes, single parents, the disabled, the homeless and individuals facing short-term emergencies. |
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