Feeding hungry families is what Southeastern Food Bank has been doing for nearly three decades. In a normal year, that means delivering 2.5 million pounds of food through a network of sub-distributors, including food pantries, local churches, emergency shelters, and senior programs across 25 Florida counties.
Now, that number has tripled to 7 million pounds.
The pandemic has caused hunger to reach an all-time high in a state that already has the third highest number of food-insecure children in the country, and 450,000 residents who have lost jobs since September 2019.
To keep hope alive for these families and to keep up with demand, the Southeastern Food Bank relies on a propane forklift.
The powerful machine sometimes lifts loads weighing up to 3,000 pounds, and with no needed downtime to recharge batteries like with electric forklifts, it’s able to move 200 pallets of food each week, up from 24 to 36 in 2019.
For the many volunteers and employees who help sort, pack, and load food for Thanksgiving and Christmas outreaches, propane provides a healthier environment compared to diesel forklifts that emit particulate matter and gases requiring ventilation or open-air structures.
A clean, powerful fuel paired with a team of dedicated individuals gets the job done and keeps thousands fed. Yes, propane can do that.
