Second Harvest receives grant to expand elements of choice in local schools

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida has been awarded a huge donation to support its efforts in expanding elements of choice in local schools. 

The $75,000 grant comes from the Morgan Stanley Foundation, an organization that helps people, institutions and governments raise, manage, and distribute the money they need in order to achieve their goals.

According to Second Harvest, the money from the foundation will provide the food bank a unique opportunity to explore how to incorporate more elements of choice to food distributions at its School Markets Program sites. 

The elements of choice model provides more healthy options and ensures families have access to foods aligned with their preferences and dietary requirements. Additionally, the program sets up accessible areas in partnering schools where students may freely choose from a variety of snack and meal options for themselves and their families, with no question of eligibility.

“This program aims to reduce the stigma barrier associated with food insecurity and give teens easy access to the food they need,” said Derrick Chubbs, president and CEO at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.

Second Harvest is one of 28 Feeding America member food banks to receive the funding from the foundation. 

Morgan Stanley said it has a long-standing commitment to helping communities facing hunger and has donated more than $38 million to the Feeding America network in the last decade. 

Joan Steinberg, global head of philanthropy at Morgan Stanley, said the foundation has been dedicated for 60 years to ensuring children receive the healthy start to life they deserve. 

"Ensuring they have access to healthy and nutritious food is a crucial part of that commitment,” said Steinberg. “Given the challenges that we’ve seen exacerbated by the pandemic over the past year, we are pleased to build upon our decade long partnership with Feeding America to help fight hunger through this impactful choice model in the communities where we live and work.” 

According to Second Harvest, one in five children may face hunger in Central Florida as a result of COVID-19. 

The food bank has high hopes that this grant will go towards helping these children. 

To learn more about Second Harvest and its mission, click here.