Itasca Holiday Program - Donations Still Needed

Reminder: This is the last week to drop off toy donations. The deadline for all toy donations is Friday, December 13th at 12:00p at Second Harvest North Central Food Bank.

More than 1,800 gift bags will be filled on Saturday, December 14^th and we hope to have enough donated gifts to provide each referred child with a gift. We are in need of new, unwrapped toys for children ranging in age from one to 12 years, especially ages 1, and 9 - 12.

Toy donations are being collected at many local businesses and churches. Donations can be dropped at any of the red and green gingerbread giving tree locations, Toys for Tots locations, or brought directly to Second Harvest during regular business hours. The deadline for all toy donations is Friday, December 13^th at 12:00pm.

The primary component of the Itasca Holiday Program is a special food box containing traditional holiday foods and other items to provide for several additional meals. A $15 grocery voucher is included for a holiday turkey or other food item that the family would like. Funds are still needed to provide for the food needed to fill 1,740 food boxes. 

The food boxes and gifts will be distributed at eight locations throughout Itasca County beginning Monday, December 16^th through Wednesday, December 18^th.

Give to the Max Day Update



We are so thankful for our many wonderful supporters. We were able to raise just over $10,500.00 on Give to the Max Day 2013. Thank you for your patience and cooperation during the unfortunate technical issues. And mostly, thank you for your continued support of our mission.

Give to the Max!

It's Give to the Max Day here in Minnesota!

Give to the Max Day 2013 is back as the best day to make the most of your charitable giving. From midnight to 11:59 p.m. on November 14th, every donation you make gives your favorite nonprofit or school the chance to win even more money. It’s the Great Minnesota Give Together!

For every dollar donated to Second Harvest, we can provide food for FIVE meals to hungry individuals in north central Minnesota. Visit or GiveMN website here to Give to the Max, today!

Eagles Auxiliary Harvest Dinner to Benefit the Grand Rapids Food Shelf

Join us for the Annual Harvest Dinner at the Grand Rapids Eagle’s Club to benefit the Grand Rapids Food Shelf on Friday, November 8^th from 5:30pm – 7:30pm. Tickets are available at the door. $10.00 per adult, $5.00 per child 12 - 4, free for children 3 and under.

The home-cooked dinner will feature turkey, dressing, real mashed potatoes, and dessert. Please bring non-perishable food items to donate to the Food Shelf. Proceeds will help support the work of the Grand Rapids Food Shelf and the ever-increasing number of families in our area, who need help putting food on the table. Support for the Food Shelf is needed now more than ever.

The Grand Rapids Food Shelf is a program of Second Harvest North Central Food Bank. For more information call 218.326.4420 or visit www.secondharvestncfb.com.

Food stamp demand rises in Minnesota as budget shrinks

More than 554,000 Minnesotans get federal food assistance — one out of every 10 people in the state. A third are children. Another quarter are elderly or disabled adults. Contrary to popular stereotypes, a majority live in families where at least one adult earns a paycheck.

 

This week, their food budget rests in the hands of Senate and House negotiators, who are about to begin debate on the massive farm bill that will set the budget for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), still commonly known to many as food stamps.

 

Read the full story here:http://www.startribune.com/politics/statelocal/229638161.html