Second Harvest's Public Service Hunger Action Day Success

Last week Second Harvest hosted a Public Service Hunger Action Day where we invited elected officials to tour our facility and to gain more awareness of the food insecurity that is a reality for more than 23,750 Minnesotans in north central Minnesota. There was great representation on the state, county, city, and school board levels with over forty attendees present. The attendees toured the facility and learned about the specific programs Second Harvest currently administers. Education based officials packed Kids Packs that are distributed to children in need through their school and the government focused officials packs NAPS boxes, which are federally funded commodity food boxes for low income seniors.

Support from elected officials in issues such as the Farm Bill, protecting SNAP benefits, and commodity food for low-income seniors is vital in the fight against hunger. There is a lot of work to be done in order to solve the issue of hunger, but great strides are being made.

 

Thank you, John Connelly Photography for capturing images of this event!

Packing Kids Packs

Tom Anzelc speaks during CSFP information stop

Itasca County Sheriff, Vic Williams asking a questions during the tour 

It was a packed house

Elementary principals, Ken Decouster and Sean Martinsen speak with Grand Rapids City Councilman Ed Zabinski

Going Orange for Hunger Action Month

As you may know, September is Hunger Action Month and all month long we are encouraging people to "Go Orange" for hunger awareness. This year we were able to turn Old Central School orange with the help of Lake Country Power and Minnesota Power for the purchase of orange lights, and the City of Grand Rapids for putting up the lights. As over 23,500 people struggle with hunger in north central Minnesota, we encourage everyone to take action and help us end hunger.

Thank you, Lake Country Power and Minnesota Power for your continued support of our mission.

Hunger Action Month



Meme Wilson loves to have fun.  When she comes to the food shelf to pick up her monthly NAPS box (commodity box for seniors), she jokes around with everyone and her enthusiasm for life is apparent.

Meme had read about Hunger Action Month and the “Go Orange Day” on September 4^th and true to form, she showed up in her orange hat and sweatshirt to help raise awareness about hunger in our community of Grand Rapids. She recognizes the importance of hunger relief programs for folks who don’t have enough resources to buy all the food they need to stay healthy.  She expressed deep appreciation for the staff and volunteers at Second Harvest who give her and others a helping hand.

Meme is one of 275 seniors served at the Second Harvest's Grand Rapids Food Shelf each month,  along with over 1,700 adults and a startling 1,300 children in August of 2014.

It is sometimes hard and heartbreaking to know so many of our local people struggle every day with real hunger.  Hunger Action Month is a time to really learn and think about the issue and the solutions to a problem that statistics show is getting worse instead of better. 

Meme lives under some very difficult circumstances, and yet she lights up a room with her personality. She depends on programs that provide her with enough food to live a healthy and independent life by having enough nutritious meals to keep going.  In fact, after leaving the food shelf today, she was going to go home to cut firewood that she gives away to people who can’t afford to buy it.  Go Meme!

Ellen