Last year, more than 42,443 volunteers helped fight hunger in Florida. | Photo courtesy of Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida
According to Feeding America, 13.9% of Orange County residents experience food insecurity, and local food programs are feeling the squeeze amid increased demand.
Lend a hand to neighbors in need by donating groceries, money, or your time to these Orlando food banks.
United Against Poverty Orlando
Drop off donations like baby food, crackers, cereal, and pastas from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday at the Life Enrichment Center.
Matthew’s Hope
Buy items like fruit bowls, protein bars, and canned vegetables from this nonprofit’s Amazon wishlist — or sign up to purchase, prepare, or serve meals.
Looking for more ways to volunteer around O-Town? Here are 25 ways to give back.
Just days after Armando’s closed its College Park spot, the restaurant is returning under a new name: Vesuvio. Still owned by the same team, the reimagined eatery could open as soon as Wednesday, Nov. 12 with a fresh look and a stronger emphasis on affordable Italian fare. (Bungalower)
Biz
PepsiCo announced plans to shut down its Frito-Lay plant in Orlando. As a result, around 500 local jobs will be terminated. A statement from the company said “this action was driven by business needs.” (WFTV 9)
Sports
The Orlando Storm is rolling in.Tickets are on sale now for the UFL team’s inaugural season, which begins in March and runs for 10 weeks. Psst — don’t miss your chance to help name the team’s mascot.
Stat
Tourism is booming in Orlando. Fueled by the debut of Epic Universe, Orange County collected a record $384.5 million in tourist taxes in fiscal year 2024-25 — up $25.1 million from the previous year. (Orlando Sentinel)
Weather
It’s time to break out the sweaters... for early risers, at least. After a warm weekend, a cold front will move into Orlando with nearly record-breaking lows anticipated for Monday and Tuesday morning. Take a look at the forecast. (FOX 35)
Festival
Orlando Japan Festival — one of the largest of its kind in Central Florida — will return to Kissimmee Lakefront Park this Sunday, Nov. 9. Attendees can peruse Japanese arts and crafts for sale, watch live performances, and enjoy a variety of food and drinks.
Shop
If you’re a Costco shopper, you know about the $1.50 hot dog. But are you in on these other 10 lesser-known hacks all Costco shoppers should know about?*
Finance
Score a lucrative signup bonus and up to 5% cash back with this credit card that experts can’t stop raving about. With perks you don’t see every day and a $0 annual fee, it will be a serious upgrade to your wallet. Learn more + apply.*
Job
Looking for a remote opportunity to lead and inspire a winning team? We’re hiring a Sales Director to fuel our fast-paced sales team, with a competitive salary, premium benefits, unlimited PTO, and real growth opportunities to boot. Apply to join our team.
City Guide
✈️ Up in the air
Terminal C is open after years of planning and construction, which were impacted by economic recession and the pandemic. | Photo provided by Orlando International Airport
Air traffic is being reduced at 40 US airports — including Orlando International Airport. Starting today, MCO will see about a 4% cut in flights, which is anticipated to grow to 10% next week. That’s roughly 100 fewer flights each day.
To help make your time at MCO as smooth as possible, we’ve created a guide that covers everything from parking and security to concessions and gates.
What to know
Parking | Not everyone has a bestie who will drop them off at the terminal at 3 a.m., but thankfully, MCO has options. See rates for short-term, long-term, and valet parking.
TSA | MCO can get busy, so the airport advises giving yourself enough time to be at security two hours before your departure time. Pro tip:Enroll in TSA PreCheck for lower wait times.
A MagSafe charging station with fast-charging technology. We love its foldable, travel-friendly design, allowing us to charge up to three devices at once from anywhere.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Earlier sunsets call for more evenings cozied up on the couch, am I right? “The Golden Girls” was just named the best television series set in Florida, so it’s the perfect excuse to hit play (again). Bonus: Elevate your night in with takeout from a new local restaurant.
