Derrick Chubbs, president and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, stands next to a distribution truck.

SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL FLORIDA BEGAN IN 1983 WHEN A GROUP OF PARISHIONERS AT COMMUNITY OF CHRIST CHURCH GOT TOGETHER TO DISCUSS FOOD INSECURITY IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, AND WHAT THEY COULD DO TO HELP.  The group recruited donors and partners, loaded, unloaded and drove trucks, anything that was needed to further the mission. In its first full year, the food bank distributed enough food for 515,000 meals.

Today, the mission is the same, but the volume has increased: Second Harvest, in its seven-county reach, distributes 300,000 meals each day, its volunteers account for 131,000 man hours each year and programs have expanded to area hospitals, schools and community centers, with more coming online each day.

We sat down with Second Harvest president and CEO Derrick Chubbs for a look into the organization’s new and invigorated programs, incredible team of people and challenges impacting food insecurity in 2025.

A driver is ready to get on the road to distribute food for Second Harvest. The food bank distributes 300,000 meals every day to the food insecure in Central Florida.

Putting Food on Central Florida Tables

“We’re doing this because we genuinely care,” says Chubbs, who moved to Orlando three years ago specifically for the role with Second Harvest. Previously, Chubbs was the CEO for the Central Texas Food Bank in Austin and worked with the American Red Cross after a successful career in the technology sector, in key roles at Dell, Pervasive Software and IBM.

“I’ve been blessed,” says Chubbs. “But I’ve also been fortunate enough to be surrounded by individuals dedicated to helping those who needed assistance. Whether that’s food, shelter or mentorship for young kids. I’ve got five buildings of people—two here in Orlando, one in Ocala, one in Melbourne and one in Daytona Beach—who are committed to ensuring that families and children get food on their table. There’s no better army than that. You treat them honorably and let them know that you appreciate what they’re doing every single day, because they actually feel it. It isn’t just a job for us, it’s a flat-out passion.”

“I would argue we have one of the strongest teams in the entire Feeding America Network, which is 200 food banks,” he adds.

Chubbs and his team of 190 employees work with more than 800 additional nonprofit organizations and distribute food to soup kitchens, church pantries, retirement community pantries, schools and universities, the equivalent of 300,000 meals each day. 80 percent of that number comes from three counties: Orange, Seminole and Osceola. But since Chubbs joined Second Harvest, Marion County has come into the fold; Second Harvest merged with the smaller food bank, increasing food distribution by 70 percent. Another success story is the expansion of Second Harvest’s building in Melbourne, increasing from 8,000 square feet to 20,000 square feet, allowing Second Harvest to get closer to the coast, making distribution quicker in Brevard County.

Volunteers from United Heart Church for Nations receive food at Second Harvest.

A Renewed Focus on Health

What Chubbs is most excited about, however, is the expansion of Second Harvest’s programs that focus on healthy eating.

“Under our ‘Food is Medicine’ initiative, we have a pilot going where we are providing healthy, diet-specific meals to individuals with renal failure,” says Chubbs. “You don’t cure that, but you can limit what that might be if that individual is eating healthy.”

“We have another initiative focused on individuals who have been released from one of our hospitals where we will, for a period of time, provide heart-healthy diets to them,” he adds. “The food is produced in our commercial kitchen.”

There’s also a mobile pantry Second Harvest is experimenting with in Volusia County, which it has been taking to that county’s health departments.

“Publix funded the vehicle, and we have another donor funding the food,” says Chubbs. “You open the side of it and can pull shelves out, and there are vegetables along the shelves. This is our first one. It’s something I’d like to grow.”

The goal, Chubbs says, is not to simply provide the community with cans of food, which can be high in fat and sodium, but healthy alternatives, such as fresh fruit and vegetables. The organization employs two dieticians, who provide support to employees going into the community centers to teach people about healthy eating and also provides recipes for preparing healthy meals.

Volunteers from United Heart Church for Nations receive food at Second Harvest.

Community Participation

Second Harvest is also increasing its efforts to engage the community in the conversation.

“Let’s use Orlando proper as an example. It’s a very diverse community. We don’t all eat the same thing,” says Chubbs. “We’re working to ask our partner agencies for more feedback on what types of healthy food our neighbors would prefer, because they’re in all of these communities and see these folk every week.”

Second Harvest’s school partnership program is a direct extension of this feedback. Originally a traditional backpack program, Chubbs, through his partners, learned that children were taking the backpacks—intended solely for the child—home to share with the entire family, and shifted the program to distribute more food once a month so the family could come in to receive enough food for all of its members.

“We had about 30 schools that were involved,” says Chubbs, “and now we have well over 70 schools involved in this school partnership program, which is from elementary school through college. We also have another 40 on a waiting list. What’s keeping us from expanding further is having the resources in the schools, adults to manage the program.”

A key part of the school partnership program’s success is the students, who in some schools have their distribution plans down to a text.

“It gives me goosebumps,” says Chubbs. “A student has a code, and to eliminate the stigma of just a handful of children (receiving the food), it’s available to the whole school. They’re learning how to treat individuals with dignity, and that’s something that’s missing in the schools these days.”

“The next generation of philanthropists are already in play in our school system,” he adds.

Students are also forging new paths in the community through Second Harvest’s free culinary training program. Not only do participants learn hands-on food preparation skills from award-winning chefs, but also conflict resolution skills and fiscal management. The program graduated its 500th student earlier this year and has a 90 percent placement rate.

“What we put out into the community is a well-rounded professional,” says Chubbs. “My favorite stat is that 82 percent of them are still working after the first year. The partners who hire our employees are so pleased with the end product, we’re able to get them higher hourly rates than they might have gotten someplace else. And not only are they getting a salary, but they’re also getting benefits. So, the single mom who just finished culinary school and didn’t have any benefits now has benefits for herself and her child or her children.”

“That program,” says Chubbs, “is, has been and will continue to be one of the most life-changing that we’re involved in.”

Loading a truck at Second Harvest’s warehouse.

A New Challenge

Despite the success of these and additional programs, Second Harvest is facing the harsh reality of food equity programs that were cut by government in 2025. First, the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA) was eliminated, which resulted in a $3.8 million cut to funding. Through LFPA, cooperative agreements allow the states, tribes and territories to procure and distribute local and regional foods and beverages that are healthy, nutritious, unique to their geographic areas and meet the needs of the population. When the Commodity Credit Corporation Chart Act, or CCC Chart Act (which provides support for emergency food programs), was revoked, Second Harvest saw the loss of 28 tractor trailer loads of food.

“We’re trying to bridge as much of the gap as we possibly can,” says Chubbs. “We typically distribute in the 90-plus million pounds of food a year, and now we’re looking at high 70s/low 80s. For this upcoming year, we’ll lose around 10-15 million pounds of food that we typically distribute. That’s meals that won’t make it to children’s tables. There’s nothing I’m more concerned about than that right now.”

A collaborative effort, says Chubbs, is key when facing such uncertainty.

“Even when everything is flourishing, we can’t do this by ourselves. If we’re going to have any conversation of substance about eliminating hunger, eliminating something that shouldn’t even exist in this country, it has to be a collaborative effort. It’s our corporations, it’s our government, it’s our donors. It’s going to take all of us.”

“But we’re going to keep distributing food and telling the story,” adds Chubbs. “We’re going to bridge as much of that gap as we possibly can.”

Agencies receive food at Second Harvest Food bank of Central Florida.

Ways to Help

Financial contributions: Make your dollars count—96 percent of monetary donations made to Second Harvest go directly to feeding people in Central Florida. Every $10 contributed means 40 meals distributed.

Become a monthly donor: The consistency of regular monetary donations means a steady stream of support for those facing hunger insecurity.

Organize a food and fund drive: Collect non-perishable food donations and monetary donations at work, church, or in your neighborhood.

Volunteer: Sign up for a shift at one of Second Harvest’s warehouses, become a brand ambassador or volunteer with your group; multiple opportunities are available.

Shop: Purchase Second Harvest-branded merchandise or host a Shop and Share.

Attend an event:  Monthly “Food For Thought” tours take place at the Orlando distribution center, in addition to other fundraisers, tournaments and events throughout Central Florida.

For more information, visit feedhopenow.org