Agency News | December 2023

Foundation for Essential Needs: Food Shelf Design

We wanted to share recent insight from Foundation for Essential Needs (FFEN), as they have been helping redesign a variety of food shelves throughout the state. They often observed two key areas of balance: 1) the “feeling” the space creates 2) the efficiency of space. As you look ahead to the new year, what potential improvements to your own space to improve your programs and services? Here are two questions to discuss and find areas of success or potential room for growth:

How does your food shelf invite your community in with dignity and hospitality and without judgment?
How well do the people, food, and processes flow for your mission sustainability?

If you’d like to learn more about FFEN’s work, have questions or would like more information please do not hesitate to reach out.

Contact: FFEN

More Information: FFEN Food Shelf Capacity

Behind the Scenes Tour: You're Invited!

Over the years, we’ve had many agency and community partners join us on our quarterly “Behind the Scenes Tours.” This is a wonderful opportunity for your staff, volunteers, and board members to get a high-level understanding of your region’s only “food bank” – Second Harvest. We explain how our product is accessed, handled, and distributed to your location, how we are supported financially and by volunteers, and so much more! You're invited to join us on Thursday, December 14, 2023, 5 p.m. at our Duluth facility. Refreshments will be provided, and we hope to see you there. Please plan to RSVP to Katie (218) 336-2303 by December 8.

Contact: Katie Cleveland, Development and Volunteer Coordinator

Grant Writing: We're Here To Help

Fundraising is an important skill for our agencies. Oftentimes it requires key statistics and information to ensure a compelling case of support for your programs and services. Recently, we learned of two website locations that will allow you to utilize hunger statistics in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. We hope these are helpful resources in your fundraising efforts. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to reach out to our Development Director, Christine Lunde.

Contact: Christine Lunde

More Information:

Minnesota | Feeding America

Wisconsin | Feeding America

Product Sourcing Update: December

We’re encouraged by our product sourcing data from the first few months of our fiscal year 2024 (July through June). We are sourcing more food overall this year compared to the same time period in 2022. We’re also seeing twice as many TEFAP products available, which is great news for our Minnesota partners. Although our fresh produce season has now wound down, we’re encouraging our local retail donors to donate fresh produce and are also seeking this nutritious product from other sources like our Midwest Food Hub (MFH).

Please be assured that we’re doing everything we can to access products for your agencies. Please let us know if you have questions or specific needs related.

Contact: Food Resource Developer

Agency Relations Hours: Join Us

We have enjoyed our recent Agency Relations Office Hours and would appreciate feedback on how to take this opportunity to the “next level”. What topics are on your mind? What would be helpful to discuss with us and your peers? We want to enhance and strengthen our partnerships with you and hope that this will be a helpful catalyst. As a reminder, office hours are available to all of our partners throughout NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin. There’s no obligation to stay for the entire hour. Feel free to pop in and join the conversation. We hope to see you on Zoom for our next one on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, 1:00–2:00 p.m.

Contact: Agency Relations Coordinator

More information: Wednesday, December 13, 2023, 1-2 p.m.

Our Schedule

We will be closed:

Monday, December 25, 2023 – In observance of Christmas Day
Monday, January 1, 2024 – In observance of New Year's Day
Friday, December 29, 2023 – For inventory

Standing Milk/Egg Order Pick-Ups: Thursdays, 12:30–1:30 p.m.

Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank is the Northland's largest hunger-relief charity. Our mission is to feed the hungry of NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization recognized by the IRS, contributions are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

[email protected] | northernlakesfoodbank.org