“Empty Plates:” How the Hunger Relief Crisis Impacts Our Community

The history of the global and U.S. national hunger relief movement has never been documented ... until now.   

In his new book, “Empty Plates: The Evolution of Hunger Relief Until All Are Fed,” Dave Krepcho draws upon the lessons learned over the course of more than three decades fighting hunger. You’re invited to a special author event to celebrate this new book and learn how we can all be a part of the solution.   

Dave Krepcho dedicated 34 years in nonprofit sector leadership, including serving as the President and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida for 17 years. Throughout his career, he led teams to distribute over one billion meals, generated hundreds of millions of dollars for hunger relief, engaged thousands of thousands of volunteers, created innovative programs and social entrepreneurial initiatives, as well as job training and placement in the culinary industry.  

“Empty Plates” holds many important lessons to be learned. The book’s first section covers a worldwide review of hunger relief over the centuries until the 1960s. The second section delves deeper into U.S. domestic hunger relief and the national food bank movement.  

The meal gap continues to grow, with 38 million people in the U.S. deemed food insecure or otherwise hungry. 

Breaking stereotypes of who needs help is essential to engaging communities in any cause. This book shines a light on our neighbors seeking and receiving support. They often look like you and me. 

Join us for an evening of thought-provoking conversation and actionable ideas for helping our friends and neighbors. Dave will sit down for a one-on-one conversation hosted by award-winning broadcaster Amy Sweezey. After leaving full-time TV news in 2020, Sweezey launched a career as a children’s book author, public speaker and freelance TV reporter. Audience members will also have the opportunity to pose their questions on hunger relief.  

With “Empty Plates,” Krepcho hopes to share knowledge that will inspire and create change for the better and engage more people to make a difference. 

This program is presented by Dave Krepcho and Amy Sweezey and is hosted by the Winter Park Health Foundation.         

About the Presenters:  

Dave Krepcho dedicated 34 years in nonprofit sector leadership, led teams to distribute over one billion meals, generated hundreds of millions of dollars for hunger relief, engaged thousands of thousands of volunteers, created innovative programs and social entrepreneurial initiatives, as well as job training and placement in the culinary industry. Dave has served on dozens of local, state, national, and international boards. He has chaired various national task forces, won numerous awards, and repeatedly testified to Congress on hunger relief. 

He believes that food is a fundamental human right and that no one should go hungry, especially in one of the world’s wealthiest countries. Dave lives in Florida with his wife Lois, family, and Quinn, a very protective schnauzer.  

Amy Sweezey is an award-winning meteorologist, author, and public speaker. She spent nearly 30 years in full-time broadcast news before leaving in 2020 to pursue her “What’s Next” after realizing that reinventing herself didn’t have an expiration date. She now focuses on public speaking and providing media services for various companies worldwide.  

As Founder and CEO of Social Weather, LLC, her portfolio includes weather consulting for Carnival Cruise Lines, the multi-media platforms of Growing Bolder, and forecasting for nationwide local affiliates of ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and Spectrum News. Amy has authored two children’s books about weather, one fiction, and one nonfiction, and created two weather workbooks for elementary school students based on Florida’s state standards for science and weather. Amy was chosen from hundreds of applicants to share her story, Reinvention at Any Age, at TEDxEustis 2024. She lives in Central Florida with her husband and three children. 

Host or Publisher Center for Health & Wellbeing