Second Harvest Heartland is the largest hunger relief organization in the Upper Midwest region, serving over 1,000 member agencies across Minnesota and western Wisconsin. It obtains food through donations, purchases, and federal programs, and distributes over 41 million pounds of food annually through food banks and programs that provide meals to vulnerable groups including children, families, and seniors. Volunteers are critical to its operations, contributing over 40,000 hours last year equivalent to $1 million in support.

2. Welcome, Volunteers!

3. Second Harvest Heartland Ending Hunger Through Community Partnerships Upper Midwest’s largest hunger-relief organization - the cornerstone of emergency food assistance in MN. MISSION:

4. Community Partnerships Community Partners: Minnesota FoodShare and Hunger Solutions MN Family, private and corporate foundations Product and financial donations from local and national producers and manufacturers Minnesota Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster More than 20,000 individual donors and more than 5,000 volunteers Member Agencies include: Food Shelves Soup Kitchens Homeless Shelters Domestic Abuse Shelters Senior Dining We serve 1,000+ member agencies and programs in 59 counties in Minnesota and western Wisconsin Partnerships allow us to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable community members.

5. How we distribute food Second Harvest Heartland distributes food to 1,000+ member agencies and programs (food shelves, soup kitchens, shelters, etc.) in 59 counties Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

6. Hunger-Fighting Programs Child Hunger Programs help provide healthy snack and meal components and nutrition education to eligible after-school and summer care services. The Produce Program receives fresh fruits and vegetables by donation and distributes them to local neighborhoods. The Purchase Program combines a revolving fund with our volume purchasing power to buy high-demand food and hygiene products that are not typically donated.

7. Hunger-Fighting Programs Food Outreach is the newest SHH program. SHH partners with local churches and other organizations to increase the amount of food available to hungry people in areas that may need additional resources. SHH delivers a truckload of food to the host’s site. Volunteers help distribute the food to 300-500 families in a 3-5 hour period. Commodity Supplemental Food Program provides 35-pound boxes of nutritionally balanced USDA food each month to an average of 10,000 income-eligible seniors, mothers and children (0-6 years).

8. Hunger-Fighting Programs Food Banking is the foundation for all our programs. SHH receives donations from the food industry and community and distributes them to our 1000+ member agencies. The Food Rescue Program collects prepared and perishable food from Twin Cities’ retailers, restaurants, cafeterias and corporate food services.

9. Where we get our food: 70% Donations 20% TEFAP & CSFP 8% Purchased 2% Food Drives

10. Second Harvest Heartland distributes more than 41 million pounds of perishable and non-perishable food and grocery products annually.

11. Hunger exists in the United States Hunger: uneasy or painful sensations caused by lack of food. Food Insecurity: individuals or families not knowing where the next meal is coming from, or if there is enough to eat for the coming week.

12. Hunger exists in the United States Hunger, food insecurity and inadequate nutrition are on the rise due to: Faltering economy Rising energy costs Aging population living on fixed incomes Job loss/mortgage foreclosure Broad-based inflation

13. Hunger exists in the Midwest In Minnesota, 11.4% of households were food insecure in 2004-2006, an increase from 9.3% in 2001-2003.

14. Who is hungry?

15. … Children An average of 132,213 Minnesota children are food insecure, for a total of 10.64%, or 1 out of 11. More than 50% of households who access food shelves are raising children. The impact of even mild nutritional deprivation can impede cognitive development and impair children’s capacities over a lifetime.

16. … Working Families The fastest growing group of food shelf clients is the working poor. 49% of households using food shelves report that paid employment is the family’s major source of income.

17. … Seniors Two out of five seniors will fall below the poverty line at some point between the ages of 60 and 90 Nearly 1 out of 3 older Americans are at high risk for malnutrition, which results in higher risk for heart disease, cancer, arthritis, diabetes and osteoporosis

18. What do our volunteers do? Deliver food to homebound seniors

19. Pack free food boxes

20. Provide data entry and clerical support

21. Keep food moving at our drive-through for our clients

22. Staff Special Events

23. Provide “on-call” support (individuals and groups)

24. 5,000 volunteers last year contributed 40,000 hours to help end hunger.

25. Thanks a Million! Our volunteers last year gave the equivalent of 25 full-time employees – that’s worth over $1,000,000!

26. What you may do today: Put labels on cans Sort and Repack food items for distribution to partner food shelves “ Clean-room” re-pack of perishable foods Other

27. Even though you may never meet the people who will be served by your efforts today, please know that because of you, people at risk for hunger have access to much needed nutritious food. As our partner in ending hunger in the heartland, you make the difference!

28. Three words to remember: Educate – share one piece of information you learned today and double the knowledge of hunger relief. Advocate – learn about legislation, national and local, that impacts hunger relief and contact your legislator. Donate – every dollar donated to Second Harvest Heartland enables us to distribute $9 of grocery products to people at risk for hunger.

29. HAVE FUN, and don’t forget to sign the log sheet. Like any organization partnering with volunteers, for safety and liability we require your name and contact information. We promise not to give your information to anyone! For more info about volunteering: [email_address] 651.209.7917

30. SIGN-IN FORM