The Power of Partnership

by Emily Raij

Food insecurity is not a new issue in Central Florida, but the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the problem and made it more difficult to get food to those impacted the most.

That population includes the low-income residents at Kinneret apartments in downtown Orlando, who rely on weekly and monthly food donations. Those grocery bag donations come from the Nanny and Papa’s Kitchen food pantry run by the Kinneret Council on Aging (KCOA), which manages the amenities, social activities, and programming for Kinneret residents. According to Sharon Weil, KCOA’s director of nonprofit operations, the organization provided 118 bags of food each month pre-COVID. Since the pandemic began, that number has increased by about 50 percent to 175 bags per month. 

Fortunately, KCOA remains both vigilant and flexible in addressing residents’ food needs, and another local nonprofit has stepped up to help. 

“Through our partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank (SHFB), we are able to provide our residents with weekly donations through SHFB’s Grocery Alliance program,” says Sharon. “We partner with SHFB and purchase food for our residents monthly through our food pantry program. SHFB offset our costs for the last six months of 2020, but other than that, KCOA purchases the food that is distributed to residents. Additionally, we pick up donated food left over from the salads and breads at Fresh Market that aren’t sold. We distribute this to more than 110 residents weekly.”

Residents know the program, which began in 2016, as bread distribution because bread is always included in the weekly bag along with canned goods, eggs, meat, dairy, and produce. Whatever the name, the food is needed and appreciated now more than ever.

“Right from the get-go, Second Harvest said they’d work with us and do whatever it takes to get it done,” says  Carol Feuerman, KCOA immediate past board president. KCOA has adopted the same mindset in addressing residents’ different and ever-changing needs, whether that be a food pantry and bagged groceries or subsidized hot lunches from the nearby assisted-living facility Orlando Lutheran Towers. Additionally, during the pandemic, The Pargh Foundation provided hot meals to residents from the Toasted Food Truck.

All in the Family

Kinneret’s newest food program is delivering hot, kosher meals to Jewish seniors throughout Central Florida for Hanukkah, Passover, and Rosh Hashanah, a service KCOA took over from Jewish Family Services in 2019. About 50 people enjoyed meals for each of these Jewish holidays, and another 200 Thanksgiving meals were distributed last year, as well.

“We join in with a lot of other agencies who, for the holidays, have been really generous towards our residents,” Sharon says. “During COVID, one of the most meaningful things has been the personalized, handwritten cards from kids and college students. We’ve included them in the distribution.”

Congregation of Reform Judaism recently added some extra delight to the KCOA’s food-distribution program, too. Members gave Kinneret decorated bottles with plants, a personal touch to remind Kinneret residents they are not forgotten.

“We’ve done really well with the holiday meal distribution and meeting the needs of people where they are,” Sharon says. “For many people, it’s the only hot meal    they’re getting.”

Sharon notes many volunteers come via the Jewish Pavilion and spend time with the Kinneret seniors – socially distanced, of course – when they bring the meals. 

“If anyone knows a low-income senior in need of a hot meal during Passover, Rosh Hashanah, or Hanukkah, or wants to volunteer their time delivering meals, they can email me,” says Sharon.              (SWeil@KinneretCouncil.org)

“In some way, we address all the food needs of everybody who lives at Kinneret,” says Carol. And multiple organizations are stepping up to help. The Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando (JFGO) Women’s Seder in April raised $2,000, which was split between Kinneret’s food pantry and JFS. About a year ago, JFGO also started its Food Cart from the Heart program, which delivers perishable groceries to those in need through Instacart. Requests for that program can be made at OrlandoJewishFed.org/heart-request/.

“I love that we’re all helping each other,” says Carol.