ABC 27 Raises More Than $33,000 to Feed Local Kids

Tallahassee, FL – ABC 27 and Second Harvest of the Big Bend teamed up to raise money for Second Harvest food bank’s Backpack Program, providing food for thousands of children when they return to school this Fall. ABC 27 kicked off the Feed the Need: School Food Drive with a $12,000 donation as a call to action for the community. ABC 27 also partnered with local businesses to add an additional $9,000 in matching donations. In total, ABC 27’s all-day event raised $33,587.

“Food insecurity is a critical need in the Big Bend, and COVID-19’s impact has multiplied that need. That’s why ABC 27–along with the Scripps Howard Foundation–was excited to donate $12,000 to Second Harvest’s Backpack Program and help make sure local students don’t go without a meal,” said Matt Brown, ABC 27 general manager.

ABC 27’s Feed the Need: School Food Drive was part of a larger month-long campaign with Second Harvest and their partners. Throughout July, ABC 27 produced multiple stories to raise awareness for Second Harvest. Combined with the one-day telethon, the month-long campaign raised $67,091 for the Backpack Program.

“Second Harvest’s Backpack Program provides 1,200 bags of nutritious food to food-insecure students every week. These donations will grow our ability to feed even more students this school year. Without this important program, students may go hungry over the weekend and return to school distracted and struggle to reach their full potential,” said Second Harvest CEO Monique E. Van Pelt.

Before the COVID-19 crisis, nearly 100,000 people in the Big Bend, including 20,700 children, lived in a food-insecure household. Today, Second Harvest is providing vital food assistance to more than 150,000 people, including 31,000 children.