Food Bank Haiku

Racks all loaded full

Quietly eager to feed

Once volunteers come

Massive totes of food

Donated and unsorted

Waiting patiently

Carrots from the dirt

Arrive massed together by the pallet

Waiting for red mesh

Cones of cereal

Towering in the warehouse

Waiting to be bagged

Could there be a prize

in one of those massive bags

volunteers wonder…

Volunteers storm in

Often times by busload

 All eager to help

Orientation

After they are all signed in

Sitting in their chairs

Many hands at work

Packaging food for those in need

Gladly with smiles

Then time for clean-up

Tables washed floors swept all clean

Then time for wrap-up.

Then hands all washed up

Preparing to repack

After instructions

What accomplishment.

So many tons of food packed

All for those in need.

Quickly they all go

Yet, another miracle

At Second Harvest.

Never too old to volunteer

Yesterday we had a group of people who were associated with Martin Luther King Day Governor's Commission volunteering at Second Harvest Heartland. They, along with a few other volunteers bagged over 7,000 pounds of potatoes during their three hour shift.  One of the participants had her mother join us, who had recently traveled up from New Orleans.  She was 95 years old.

It was amazing to visit with this lovely lady who still had a thirst for travel and learning about others from around the world.  I was inspired by her curiosity, positive attitude and willingness to help others.

Food insecurity in America

Did you know that about one in six American's is food insecure? By food insecure it means people rare  having to struggle to afford food in addition to other basic necessities such as rent, utilities, medication, etc.  This is pretty discouraging in one of the world's wealthiest nations.

Where I work, Second Harvest Heartland, we distributed 89 million pounds of food to people in need from within our region.  Much of this food is donated by area corporations such as General Mills, Cub Foods, Target, Walmart, etc.

In addition to generous donations of food, thousands of volunteers helped feed those in need through Second Harvest.  Last year volunteers contributed time which was equivalent to 70 full-time employees.

You can read more about this from NBC News, America's real hunger game: 50 million in crisis.

Minnesota Foodshare Month

Did you know that March is "Minnesota Foodshare Month"?  The Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches sponsors Foodshare in order to promote donation of funds and food to food shelves across the state.

While working at Second Harvest Heartland I've learned how much farther a financial gift to a food bank can go, over the donation of food.  Thanks to the generous volunteer involvement and donation of food, a $5 donation is able to purchase food enough for 18 meals through Second Harvest.  Even as a coupon clippin' dollar stretchin' kind of guy, I can't come anywhere close to purchasing food for that cheap.

It is estimated that even in our nation's breadbasket that 1 in 10 Minnesotan's is food insecure.  That figure is as high as 1 in 6 among our state's young people.  If you have food or finances to spare, this is a great month to consider a donation!

When the going gets tough, the tough get volunteering

Yesterday morning, with temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees below zero, a mother in a foot brace and her three children came in to volunteer at Second Harvest Heartland. They had come to volunteer the previous weekend with a large group from their church.

Together, with the help of a few other hardy souls they labeled and repacked over 3,000 pounds of crackers for their neighbors in need.

Way to go!

September is Hunger Action Month

During the month of September people and communities are encouraged to fight hunger, be it by advocacy, fund raising or volunteering.  Even in the world's breadbasket 1 in 10 people are food insecure. That figure is as high at 1 in 6 of our region's children. This means families are missing meals and might have to make the difficult decision as to whether to pay for food or their electric bill, food or their rent, food or their medication.  Hard choices!

Second Harvest Heartland West staff

One way in which people are drawing attention to this issue is to wear orange. Another great way to develop hunger awareness is by taking the SNAP challenge, and living on a food budget of just $4.50 per day.

Locally Bremer Bank is doing a "Double Down Challenge; donating $5 for every hour people volunteer at Second Harvest Heartland's food bank, up to $50,000. Many volunteer shifts are available and can be easily accessed through the volunteer opportunities website.

More information is available from Second Harvest Heartland's website.

PS  An article, Food insecruity, in today's StarTribune notes that at some point during 2012 there were 49 million Americans who didn't know where their next meals would come from.

Second Harvest Pack-a-thon

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It was heart warming to see hundreds of people show up to support Second Harvest Heartland's mission, through their financial donations and volunteer efforts today.  Just this morning well over 40 tons of corn was labeled and boxed; made ready for delivery to food shelves across Minnesota and Western Wisconsin.  How cool is it to see Minnesotan's on a beautiful Saturday morning taking time out to help others in need.

Packaging beans

In conversation It was touching to hear  the stories of some who were helping out, who at earlier times in their lives were on the the receiving end.

But by the grace of God go I!

The power of volunteering

Yesterday while working at Second Harvest Heartland I visited with one of the volunteers.  He was an engineering student from China who was interning with a corporation in town.  He mentioned that volunteering was not a common activity in China.  This reminded me of the great contributions that volunteers have made, and continue to make in American society.  Just this past year at Second Harvest Heartland nearly 100,000 volunteer hours were donated.  Thanks to these volunteer efforts, and to generous food donations, one dollar given to this food bank can go to buy eight dollars worth of food for those experiencing hunger.

Second Harvest Heartland

I took a tour of Second Harvest Heartland's main warehouse in Maplewood yesterday.  WOW, it was simply amazing to see the vast quantities of food, both canned and fresh, on the shelves.  Last year Second Harvest distributed 78 million pounds of food to people who were food insecure.  These are folks who might not know where their next meal is coming from, or who are having to make the difficult decision as to whether to pay for food, or their medication, rent, or electric bill.  

I'm thrilled to be working with volunteers in this organization at their Golden Valley warehouse.  You can learn more about Second Harvest on their website. 

Corporate volunteerism at work

Kemps.... it's the people.

I met the soon to be CEO of Kemps today while volunteering at Second Harvest Heartland. He was there with a good sized group of employees working away packaging food for families in need, all with great attitudes and smiles on their faces.

Tonight when I went to make an ice cream purchase my experience earlier in the day made my choice much more simple than usual.

Kemps... it's the people!