Host’s Introduction
As the Christmas season approaches, many of us cherish time spent with family around the table or tree. However, for some in our community, the holidays can be a struggle to figure out how to put food on the table. The Southeastern Food Bank in Winter Garden, in partnership with Freedom Solar Power—a leading provider of residential and commercial solar energy—aims to address this need. They are working together to supply food to 500 food banks and community pantries throughout Florida, aiming to support an additional 1,000 families this Christmas, in addition to the hundreds of thousands they already assist.
This morning, we welcome Gilberto Coreano from the Southeastern Food Bank Board of Directors and Eddie Torres, Sales Manager at Freedom Solar.
Interview Summary
Mr. Coreano begins by discussing the mission of Southeastern Food Bank, including the services they provide across Florida and beyond. He underscores the significance of not only providing food but also spreading hope to those in need.
Eddie Torres explains what motivated Freedom Solar to collaborate with the food bank. “We installed solar panels at the home of Southeastern Food Bank’s president, Mark Anthony. He experienced the benefits firsthand and realized how effective solar could be for the food bank. With high energy costs associated with facilities like his, meeting with Mark allowed us to understand the food bank’s mission of supporting about 500 organizations across the state. We knew we had to contribute something special, so we decided to donate an entire solar system to their headquarters. This will not only help provide energy independence but also enable them to expand their services without the burden of rising energy costs.”
Torres also shares that being a part of the Southeastern Food Bank’s mission has been a blessing. “Many people don’t realize how deeply organizations like this touch lives. It has truly been a great honor for me,” he added.
During the conversation, Gilberto Coreano highlighted the substantial impact of the solar panel donation. “It has been incredibly positive,” he said, noting projected savings of $236,000 in energy costs over the lifespan of the system. “This will allow us to feed an average of 800 additional local families each year.” He further emphasized that the food bank will no longer have to worry about power outages, especially during hurricanes, stating, “We will be able to continue assisting families during such interruptions.”
In conclusion, Eddie Torres shared Freedom Solar’s website and contact information, while also highlighting another vital aspect of their partnership with the food bank: “For each residential installation, Freedom will donate $500, and for commercial installations, $1,000. This supports efforts like ours,” he concluded.