Date: Monday, Dec. 6, 2022
Outlet: iHeart Radio/ Florida Exclusivo
Spokesperson: Gilberto Coreano, Board of Directors Member for Southeastern Food Bank, and Eddie Torres, Freedom Solar Orlando Manager
Interviewer: Sandra Carrasquillo, host of Florida Exclusivo (statewide show running on 30+ iHeart stations throughout FL)
Interview TRT: 13 minutes
Host Introduction:
With Christmas just around the corner, many of us look forward to family time together around the tree or table. But for some in our community, Christmas is a time like many others when they have to figure out how to put food on their plates. The Southeastern Food Bank, in Winter Garden, and Freedom Solar Power, a leading national provider of residential and commercial solar energy, have joined forces to provide food for 500 food banks and community pantries across the state and feed up to 1,000 additional families this Christmas, over and beyond the hundreds of thousands to which they already provide food.
We welcome this morning Gilberto Coreano, member of the Board of Directors for Southeastern Food Bank, and Eddie Torres, Sales Manager at Freedom Solar.
Interview synopsis:
Mr. Coreano speaks first about the mission of Southeastern Food Bank and the services they provide in Florida as well as other states of the union and in the Caribbean basin. He emphasized the importance of providing food but also of spreading a message of hope to those in need.
Mr. Torres was asked what motivated Freedom Solar to step up and partner with the food bank.
“We installed solar panels in the home of Southeastern Food Bank’s president, Mark Anthony, and he realized how effective they were (in his home), and thought it would make a lot of sense for the food bank. The energy costs are so high in facilities like his, so after meeting with Mark and learning about the needs and the mission of the food bank, and that they help about 500 organizations across the state, we knew we had to do something special to help with their mission. We decided to donate an entire solar system that provides energy independence at their headquarters, and also allows them to expand their services without worrying about the rising energy costs.”
Mr. Torres added that for him, it has been a blessing to be a part of Southeastern FB’s mission. He mentioned that many times people don’t realize that so many hearts are touched by organizations like this one. “It has truly been a great honor for me”, added Torres.
During the interview, Gilberto Coreano spoke about the impact that this donation (referring to the solar panel system donated by FS). “It has been a very positive impact”, mentioning the $236,000 savings in energy costs for the lifespan of the system. “We will be able to feed an average of 800 more local families annually”. Gilberto also emphasized that from now on, when there are power outages in the area due to hurricane impacts, for example, SEFB will no longer have to worry about being without power. “We will be able to continue helping families during power interruptions”, he said.
In closing, Eddie Torres shared Freedom Solar’s website and phone number and highlighted another important aspect of their partnership with SEFB: “Freedom will donate $500 per residential installation and $1,000 per commercial installation to food banks, as a way to help with missions like this one”, he concluded.
The host thanked both of her guests for their time and for the valuable information provided.
Originally aired on Florida Exclusivo, an iHeart radio station.