Agency News | May 2023

Waived Fees: Increased Meals

In February 2022, with the goal of supporting your generous distribution of food to Northland families, children and seniors, we removed all fees for our donated product. Rather than burden your agencies with a fee for our acquisition of donated product (transportation, storage and handling), we made the bold decision to utilize our own financial resources to support you and your hunger-relief efforts. We’re happy to report that this change is resulting in a 12% increase in our distribution of donated food to you (more than 383,000 pounds). What’s more important, however, is the additional 306,000 meals for families, children and seniors in our region that has resulted from this decision. If you’re continuing to utilize the narrative that dollars donated to you support your food acquisition from our food bank, please ensure that you’re speaking to purchased product only so your donors are receiving an honest and transparent message. Keep up the great work, agency partners! Together, we’re ending hunger in the Northland!

MN Food Shelf Survey: What Our Neighbors Need

Thank you for your participation in the 2022 Minnesota Food Shelf Client Survey—the results are in! The Foundation for Essential Needs heard from 7,014 of our food shelf clients from 288 food shelves like yours throughout the state of Minnesota—many more than our previous surveys. There’s lots of interesting data and stories that many of us helped to gather. Read the full report here to learn about the most important foods, experiences, and needs from individuals visiting food shelves across Minnesota. We hope you’ll use this data to inform your future program plans, putting our neighbors facing hunger at the center of your decision-making.

Resourceful: New Information

You may remember that in the spring of 2021, Essentia Health and other local and statewide organizations launched We Are Resourceful with the goal of helping people with health-related social needs. To date, more than 10,000 referrals have been made helping connect people to community resources—including your regional food programs. With the impact of inflation, we’re receiving many inquires about our programs and others that support families, children and seniors. Help us spread the word about regional food resources, learn more, and add your program to Resourceful.

We Are Resourceful: Video and Website



Contact: Jill Doberstein, Essentia Health

Be On Board Program: Build a Better Nonprofit Board

Are you looking for ways to better engage your board? Are you currently on a board or thinking about board service? If so, Community Action Duluth, the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation, Head of the Lakes United Way, and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits have joined together to bring the Northland the Be on Board Program, a unique opportunity to connect with others interested in serving our community through board service, meet nonprofit leaders to learn more about their work, and learn more about what they are looking for in potential board members. The program lasts four sessions and begins Thursday, May 11. Childcare will be provided. This is a great opportunity to engage your board to support your important local program.

More information: Head of Lakes United Way

Join Us: Behind the Scenes Tour

After a three year hiatus, our “Behind the Scenes” tours are back! We hope you will join us on Thursday, May 18 as we share stories of the lives you’ve impacted and the work we’ve done to ensure all of our neighbors have access to healthy and nutritious meals. A simple lunch will be provided.

RSVP to: Andrew at least four days prior to the event

Our Schedule: Memorial Day Closure

Closed: In observance of Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, 2023

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.

© 2023 Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank, all rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you are an important part of our hunger-relief work.

[email protected] | northernlakesfoodbank.org