Bank of America announced a $45,000 donation worth 180,000 meals to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida to address food insecurity in the region. Earlier this year, the company announced it would make a $100 donation to local hunger relief organizations and food banks for each employee in Orlando who received a COVID-19 booster shot or vaccine and notified the bank before the end of January.
In Central Florida, Feeding America projects that 13.8%, one in seven people, and 20.1%, one in five children, lived in households that were potentially food insecure in 2021. As the pandemic continues, hunger relief organizations in Orlando and across the country are facing ongoing challenges such as increased demand for their services and rising food prices.
Bank of America is supporting its employees’ health and safety while addressing one of the local communities’ most critical needs. The company made an additional contribution to address the increased need experienced by hunger relief organizations across the country. Since the onset of the pandemic, Bank of America has provided more than $353,000 in funding to Second Harvest Food Bank in support of local hunger relief efforts.
Second Harvest Food Bank is continuing to distribute enough food for 250,000 meals each day through its network of 550 community feeding partners. An estimated one in seven Central Floridians is at risk of going to bed hungry on any given night. For every $10 donated to Second Harvest, the organization can provide 40 meals to the community. With help from the bank’s donation, Second Harvest will be able to provide 180,000 meals to individuals and families throughout Central Florida. The bank is a longtime partner of Second Harvest, with donations to the organization totaling more than $1 million to date.
“Ongoing financial support from corporate advocates – like Bank of America – continue feeding hope to our neighbors experiencing food insecurity,” said Derrick Chubbs, President and CEO at Second Harvest Food Bank. “The pandemic’s economic impact on Central Florida hit deep, and the need for emergency food assistance remains elevated. We’re extremely grateful for every contribution.”
Nationally, the bank has committed $10.6 million dollars to food banks and hunger relief organizations through this effort. Since 2015, Bank of America has donated nearly $150 million toward hunger relief efforts.
“As the pandemic continues to impact Orlando, food banks and hunger relief organizations are experiencing increased demand and higher costs to meet the needs of individuals and families,” said Steven Alch, President, Bank of America Central Florida. “Our commitment to help strengthen the communities we live in and serve is unwavering, which is why we are investing in the health, safety and wellbeing of our teammates while also providing funds to help local organizations support our neighbors and fight food insecurity.”
Bank of America committed to donating a minimum of $25,000 in each of the company’s 93 markets to local nonprofit partners as part its vaccine booster effort. Because vaccination boosters and reporting are voluntary and additional company contributions are reflected in the final amount, actual donation amounts differ from the number of boosters reported by bank employees.
The company has encouraged staff to get COVID-19 vaccinations since summer 2021 and has offered incentives such as paid time-off and $500 credits towards health benefit premiums. In partnership with local nonprofits, Bank of America has also distributed more than 38 million masks, 41,000 cases of hand sanitizer and 11 million gloves in local communities as part of its ongoing efforts to address health-related disparities accelerated by the pandemic.
