Advocacy Efforts for 2025: Focused and Forward-Thinking

As we look ahead to the year, we are excited to share our advocacy priorities and the impactful work we’ll be focusing on. This year, we are continuing to push for crucial policy changes that can help support families across Florida and beyond.

First and foremost, we are committed to advocating for the adoption of Summer EBT. Florida has until February 15th to submit the Final Plan for Operations and Management to the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Services for the summer of 2025. Summer EBT is a critical program that provides food benefits to children when school is out, helping families bridge the gap during summer months when school meals are unavailable. We encourage our supporters to reach out to their elected officials to voice their support for this program and ensure its successful implementation in Florida.

In addition to our work around Summer EBT, we are proud to continue our partnership with the Prenatal to 3 Coalition. Together, we are identifying and supporting updated bills that align with our shared policy priorities—ensuring that our advocacy efforts are making the greatest impact for families at every stage of early childhood development.

We are also excited to join Bread for the World in their nationwide call for the Nourish Our Future Campaign, which focuses on addressing hunger, food insecurity, and the need for sustainable, equitable solutions. This campaign provides an opportunity to join voices across the country to push for policies that will secure a healthier future for all.

None of this important work would be possible without the support of our partner organizations. A huge thank you to each of you for lending your voices to these critical causes. Your dedication and collaboration help make our collective efforts stronger and more impactful.

We look forward to working together in the year ahead as we continue to advocate for the families who need it most.

Florida Impact Honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a Day of Service

For the second consecutive year, Florida Impact proudly celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by hosting a meaningful day of service. In partnership with Monarch Learning Academy, 15 students, along with a few parents and faculty members, gathered at the Eatonville Public Library to make a positive impact on the community.

The day’s efforts were focused on packing grocery bags for families in need. In total, 50 bags were packed, each containing enough food to feed a family of four for the weekend. The students also took time to reflect on Dr. King’s life and the tremendous impact he had on our nation. In addition to packing meals, the students wrote heartfelt letters to include in the grocery bags and came up with their own inspirational quotes. One group of students wrote, "Freedom is not a prize, it is a blessing," reminding us of the importance of continuing Dr. King's work today.

It was truly inspiring to see the passion and commitment of these young people, who are already making a difference in their community. It’s clear that Dr. King's dream is alive and well in the hearts of the next generation.

In addition to the meal-packing, the students organized a donation drive for toiletries and household items to assist a student at the Academic Center for Excellence whose family recently lost everything in a house fire.

The grocery bags were donated to The Experience Christian Center, where they were distributed to families in need at a local resource event.

A huge thank you goes out to Ms. Murray and the dedicated staff at Monarch Learning Academy for lending us their amazing students for this day of service. We’d also like to extend our gratitude to Ms. Sara Brown, the Library Manager at Eatonville Public Library, for graciously allowing us to use the library for this impactful event.

Together, we continue to honor Dr. King's vision and work toward a brighter, more unified future.

Jumpstarting Our New Initiative with Head Start

We were thrilled to kick off our new initiative in partnership with Head Start, bringing valuable nutrition education to young students and their families in Orange County. Thanks to Dr. Cooks and the dedicated nursing interns from UCF, we had the incredible opportunity to work with students at both the Pine Hills and Callahan Head Start locations.

The students were engaged in learning about the importance of healthy snacking and the benefits of eating plenty of fruits and vegetables. In addition to the fun and educational sessions with the kids, we also took the time to speak with parents whose children were identified as being outside the normal weight range. We provided them with helpful tips and resources on how to ensure their children are getting a balanced, nutritious diet.

We also shared practical tools for tracking daily nutrient intake and information on where to access fresh, healthy produce in their local areas. It was wonderful to see such positive engagement from both the students and parents, and we hope to continue making an impact on the health and well-being of these families.

In addition to the Head Start programs, UCF nursing interns also provided nutrition education to elementary school students at the Callahan location. Their dedication to teaching and making a difference was truly inspiring!

A heartfelt thank you to the UCF nursing students for doing such an outstanding job educating Head Start students, elementary school children, and parents. We’d also like to express our gratitude to Pine Hills and Callahan Head Start for welcoming us and hosting this important event.

We look forward to continuing this important work and building lasting relationships with these communities.

Honoring African American Leaders in Food Justice

In celebration of Black History Month, we would like to take a moment to recognize and honor some of the incredible African American leaders who are driving change and advancing food justice here in Florida. These individuals have worked tirelessly to create a more equitable and sustainable food system, and their dedication continues to inspire us all.

Florence French Fagan serves as the Senior Regional Organizer covering the Southeast Region for Bread for the World, where she plays a pivotal role in mobilizing communities to advocate for policies that address hunger and food insecurity.

Glen Providence, Executive Director of Hebni Nutrition Consultants, has dedicated his career to improving the nutritional health and well-being of underserved communities through education and innovative programs that address food deserts and promote healthy eating.

Derrick Chubbs, President and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, has been a key figure in leading efforts to alleviate hunger in Central Florida by connecting people to nutritious food and advocating for systemic change to combat food insecurity.

We would be remiss if we didn’t also highlight our very own Kim Johnson, President and CEO of our organization, whose leadership and unwavering commitment to food justice has shaped much of the impactful work we do every day. Kim’s vision continues to inspire us as we move forward in our mission.

These are just a few of the many individuals who are working to create a more just and equitable food system. We are proud to stand alongside them and grateful for their continued dedication to the cause.

As we celebrate Black History Month, we honor these leaders—and so many others—whose work is shaping the future of food justice for all.

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• Children’s Home Society
• Florida School Nutrition Association
• City of Miami Gardens
• Flipper Chapel
• Fat Brands
• MAZON A Jewish Response to Hunger American Heart Association  
• David Kimmel Foundation 
• DeBartolo Family Foundation Inc Enterprise Holdings Foundation Florida Conference United Methodist  
• FRAC - Food Research & Action
• Project Bread
• FL-GA District of the Lutheran Church of Missouri Synod 
• Popeyes Foundation 
• United Women in Faith- Florida
• Wawa Foundation 
• Women’s Missionary Society
• 11th Episcopal District of AME Church
• Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation
• Southeastern Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends