ORLANDO, Fla. — The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing Second Harvest Food Bank to make big changes when it comes to feeding families.
While the demand for food has doubled over the past 18 months, the nonprofit can bring in only 50 volunteers at a time to help. But during that time, one woman’s drive to help others is inspiring her fellow volunteers at Second Harvest to go further.
What You Need To Know
- Viviane Bueno began volunteering at Second Harvest in March 2020
- The volunteer captain has logged more than 1,000 hours since then
- Bueno makes a difference with community, other volunteers, a volunteer lead says
- Bueno moved to Central Florida from Brazil and says food bank is a second family
“This, for me, it’s amazing,” said Viviane Bueno, a volunteer captain at Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.
Bueno, who started her volunteer work as the pandemic began in March 2020, has logged more than 1,000 hours since then and become one of Second Harvest's most vital volunteers.
“I’m here five days a week, yes," Bueno said, laughing. "All day."
“What is heroic about her is not so much that she’s coming in all those hours, which is amazing, but that when she shows up, she steps up,” Second Harvest volunteer lead Lorri Highet said. “She is a leader. She shows initiative. She owns our mission.”
Second Harvest’s mission of feeding families is more important than ever, as demand for food doubled during the pandemic, Highet said. With families scrambling to put food on their tables, it puts extra work, extra pressure on the volunteers.
“So we always have to remember that the food we’re touching, we’re inspecting, we’re processing is going to other people,” Highet said. “So we need to put our love and care into it. And Viviane reminds people of that all the time.”
“You put your energy and love because the people, I think nowadays, need love, needs to understand one another, you know?” Bueno said. “And here you can make a difference with food, but with other volunteers, too.”
Bueno and her family moved to Central Florida from Brazil just four years ago and said she’s grateful she found a second family at the food bank, one that shares her passion to make sure no Central Florida family goes hungry.
“You see this, oh my god, this can save lives,” Bueno said.
Second Harvest recently honored Bueno and two other outstanding volunteers at an awards ceremony to thank them for their hours of service and dedication to helping others.
Second Harvest is always in need of volunteers to help make sure Central Florida families have enough to eat. For more information on how to get food assistance or about volunteering, visit the nonprofit’s website.