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Your Impact in 2024


What a year! Thanks to you and your incredible efforts, we expanded the reach of our mission in remarkable ways throughout 2024. The stories and numbers in this issue of the Harvester give a glimpse of the impact you've made—whether you volunteered once or are a regular with a top spot on our Bloomerang leaderboard. Check out our 2024 volunteer stats below, and know that every hour you gave, every task you completed, and every ounce of heart you poured into our work made a real difference in building food-secure communities.


Our #1 Volunteer of 2024: Rick Adelman

“It is really great to have an organization like Second Harvest where volunteers can do something that has an immediate positive impact on the community.” - Rick Adelman


We are so grateful for Rick Adelman, who clocked in an astounding 621.7 volunteer hours with Second Harvest in 2024! Rick is one of our lead volunteers at our Greensboro Distribution and Nutrition Education Center where he trains and assists volunteers. He started volunteering in 2020 after he happened to see cars lined up at the Greensboro location for a community distribution event. Rick says he “believes deeply in Second Harvest’s mission” having “witnessed poverty first hand.” Thank you, Rick, for having such a big heart for our community and for being part of our team!

Read the Full Story


Where Do Community Meals Go?

“When I enjoy the food so well prepared, with all the information about the types of food and how to heat it up, I am so thankful”A Community Meals recipient


If you have ever helped in our Community Meals kitchen while volunteering at Second Harvest, you may have wondered where all the food goes. Second Harvest partners with multiple programs across Northwest NC to get these nutritious meals where they are needed most. These programs include Meals on Wheels in Rockingham, Stokes, and Yadkin Counties and After School meal programs in Forsyth, Guilford, Davie, and Iredell Counties. A few months ago, a senior who received a meal from Second Harvest’s Community Meals program expressed their gratitude saying, “The food is the best I’ve ever eaten.” That was a high compliment and a thrill for our team to hear. Thank you for helping to make it possible for seniors to have easy access to food through your volunteer efforts!


More Ways to Get Involved

Seed and Plant Swap


Don't miss out on this FREE opportunity to get new seeds and plants for your garden this year. Whether or not you have seeds or plants to share, you are most welcome! Come out to the Food Bank on Saturday February 8, 10 a.m.- noon, located at 3330 Shorefair Drive, Winston-Salem, NC.

Resolve to Get Involved


Make community service and connection part of your 2025 New Year’s resolution! Whether you come once a year or you're a regular, we are grateful for the gift of your time.

SIgn Up to Volunteer

Planned Giving


Help future generations grow up healthy by making a planned gift to Second Harvest Food Bank.Your gift ensures ongoing access to nutritious food and supports lasting solutions to hunger. Get started with FreeWill, an easy, online tool for creating a legally valid will or trust in just 20 minutes.

Go to FreeWill


Benefits of Volunteering































Did you know volunteering not only helps others also enriches your life?


Here are 5 benefits of volunteering:


  1. Mental health: Volunteering helps to combat anxiety and depression through increased social contact, especially if you form new relationships while you volunteer regularly.
  2. Physical health: Often volunteering requires moving around, which can contribute to the daily exercise you need.
  3. Career advantages: You can learn new skills and build valuable workplace experience through volunteering.
  4. Joy and fulfillment: Evidence shows that volunteering releases hormones in your brain that make you happier. This happiness likely comes from being part of meaningful work that breaks your regular routine and commitments. Volunteering can also spark motivation, inspiration, and creativity.
  5. Connections: Volunteering helps you to make new friends, expand your network, and feel connected to your community.




Source: https://www.helpguide.org/mental-health/wellbeing/volunteering-and-its-surprising-benefits




Trivia Answer:

Thank you to those who participated in the trivia from last month's newsletter. In December, we celebrated the 1,000th graduate from the Providence Culinary Training (PCT) Program.

Volunteer Photo Gallery

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Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NC 3330 Shorefair Drive, WS | 336.784.5770 | SecondHarvestNWNC.org

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