Today I had the privilege of attending the dedication ceremonies for the “Morgan & Morgan Hunger Relief Center” which is the newly constructed food distribution center for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. I was invited there as a former four-year member of the Board of Directors of which two years were spent as the organization’s President. This enormous facility receives donated food, stores it on racks or inside massive drive-in refrigeration units and then distributes the food to over 500 service organizations that feed the hungry of Central Florida. While it is sad to know that so many of our neighbors are having a difficult time providing for their family’s basic nutrition, it is an incredible demonstration of our community’s compassion that it has invested so much in a modern and effective facility to provide relief from hunger.
I spoke to John Morgan, the local celebrity lawyer, before the ceremony and he reminded me that when we both were serving as volunteers in our church I had discussed my service at the Second Harvest Food Bank. He said that it was that conversation that led him to the Food Bank and ultimately many years later to being the largest financial donor to the new distribution center. While I always felt that my service was important, little did I know that it would inspire others to help such a worthy organization such a significant manner.
I hope that my current service as Treasurer on the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida can be equally transformative. Big Brother Big Sisters is an extraordinary organization that provides one-on-one mentoring to children on the edge of going astray. Their success rate as measured by children’s improvement in school and by avoiding trouble is almost 100%. So let me implore you to help those in need and make a difference as you feel comfortable. Some can give time and others can donate money. Some enjoy providing direct service and others, like me, feel more comfortable providing organizational support. The important thing is to reach out and help. We can all make a difference.