Gatorland Partners with WESH 2 Share Your Christmas Food Drive

Live Drop Off Location Scheduled for December 12th, Donations Accepted Now

ORLANDO, Florida Dec. 2, 2019)    Gatorland®, the “Alligator Capital of the World,” is proud to announce it has partnered again with WESH 2 News for the 34rd Annual Share Your Christmas Food Drive benefiting the Second Harvest Food Bank.  On Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, between 6 a.m. and 1 p.m., the public is invited to stop by to drop off their food donations while WESH 2 TV News anchors broadcast live on location and do meet and greets until Gatorland makes its big check presentation to Second Harvest Food Bank live during the noon newscast.

Since 2014, Gatorland has collected more than 19,500 pounds of food and donated more than $43,173 to the Second Harvest Food Bank.  Gatorland is challenging all local businesses and schools to begin collecting donations now and bring them to the park before or on Dec. 12. For more details, visit: https://www.gatorland.com/share/

“We are excited to be working with WESH 2 for our sixth year in a row,” said Mark McHugh, president and CEO of Gatorland.  “Our commitment to giving back to the community continues to be very important to us.”

This is the 34th annual WESH 2 Share Your Christmas Food Drive benefitting Second Harvest Food Bank, which provides food and basic-needs items to more than 500 grass roots organizations in Central Florida.  Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is a private, nonprofit organization that collects, stores and distributes donated food to more than 550 feeding partners in six Central Florida counties: Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia. Last year, with the help of numerous donors, volunteers and a caring, committed community, the food bank distributed 50 million meals to partner programs such as food pantries, soup kitchens, women’s shelters, senior centers, day care centers and Kids Cafes.  For every $10 contributed, up to $90 worth of groceries can be provided for struggling families, seniors, kids, veterans and others. Florida has one of the highest rates of food insecure children in the U.S.  For more information on helping, go to www.feedhopenow.org.

Gatorland is a 100-acre theme park combining Old Florida charm with exciting experiences, exhibits, and entertainment.  Originally opened as a roadside attraction in 1949, the park is celebrating its 70th Anniversary this year and recently opened the brand-new White Gator Swamp featuring the largest collection of rare leucistic and albino alligators in the U.S.  Today, it provides affordably-priced family fun featuring thousands of alligators and crocodiles, breeding marsh with observation tower, free-flight aviary, nature walk, petting zoo, educational wildlife programs, award-winning gift shop, Florida’s best train ride, Gator Gully Splash Park, on-site restaurant and one-of-a-kind shows including Gator Jumparoo and Up-close Encounters.  Popular adventure experiences inside the park include the Screamin’ Gator Zipline and Stompin’ Gator Off-Road adventure.

For more Gatorland information, visit us online at www.gatorland.com or call 800-393-JAWS.  Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gatorland, on Twitter @gatorland.com and on Instagram: gatorland_orlando https://www.instagram.com/gatorland_orlando/ 

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Press contact:  Kathy Hernandez & Associates Public Relations, kathy@khapr.com or (407) 381-0428.