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Second Harvest's First Summer Food Giveaway Helps Thousands Of Area Families

Cyd Hoskinson
/
WJCT

2500 struggling families will have enough food to eat tonight and for many days to come thanks to Second Harvest.

Credit Cyd Hoskinson / WJCT
/
WJCT
Executive Director Bruce Granger

Every year at Thanksgiving, Second Harvest gives away thousands of turkey dinners to hungry Jacksonville families, but this is the first time the organization is distributing groceries in the middle of summer.

Executive Director Bruce Ganger says there seems to be more people than ever who don’t know where their next meal is coming from.

“This summer, the lines are as long and the demand is as high as we’ve ever seen it," he says. "So yes, the stock market hit another high early last week and people are touting investing again but these are not the people who are the beneficiaries of that."

Credit Cyd Hoskinson / WJCT
/
WJCT
The front of the line.

Ganger says the bags contain enough meat, cabbage, potatoes, pasta, canned fruit and vegetables to feed a family of 4 for a week.

50-year-old Kimberly O’Brian watches her grandchildren in the summer while their parents work. She stood in line for 7 hours to make sure she wouldn’t miss out on the groceries.

“Aiden and Elayna are going to love it and want to know what grandma has when she gets home," says O'Brian. "I know it’s a tremendous blessing and I’m very thankful for the opportunity.”

Second Harvest’s Bruce Ganger says it’s possible they’ll have one more large food giveaway between now and Thanksgiving.

Click here for more information about Second Harvest.

Cyd Hoskinson began working at WJCT on Valentine’s Day 2011.