Hunger knows no boundaries – race, religion skin tone, gender, and age don’t matter. Our response to the growing number of those who are hungry in our own community for a variety of complex issues should, therefore, be well coordinated.

In an effort to strengthen our Emergency Family Assistance Ministry, St. Luke’s reached out to religious organizations on S. Apopka Vineland Rd (a.k.a “Holy Highway”) to bring together our neighbors and fight hunger as one. After two exciting meetings, iFOOD was born.

Since then, Jewish Family Services and St. Luke’s had sent canned food and toys to flood victims in Pakistan through the Islamic Center of Orlando; Islam Inc. continues to donate food to the Jewish Family Services; St. Luke’s volunteers are assisting at the Darden Restaurants Food Pantry (managed by Jewish Family Services), Church of the Ascension collaborated with Bay Meadows Elementary School to collect canned food to supplement the food pantry iFOOD is supporting.

These are the direct and predictable outcomes. The indirect blessing of this collaboration is the incredible opportunity to learn about each other’s faith and find out that we are more alike than different.

Our group includes

• Church of the Ascension
• Holy Family Catholic Church
• Islamic Center of Orlando
• Jamah Masjid
• Jewish Family Services
• Salem Lutheran Church
• St. Andrew’s Catholic Church
• St. Luke’s UMC

The aim is…

• Coordinate food drives, collection of other family assistance items such as toys during holidays and personal hygiene items and support Darden Restaurant Food Pantry – managed by Jewish Family Services – and St. Vincent De Paul’s Pantry at Holy Family Catholic Church.
• Network, share information and best practices.
• Work towards common goals to fight extreme poverty in Southwest Orlando.
• Become an instrument to strengthen interfaith understanding and collaboration.