Partner of the Month: August 2022 - Second Harvest Heartland

Our Partner of the month of August is Second Harvest Heartland. We are so grateful to have their constant support. Below are some questions we asked our partner

Why is Second Harvest Heartland supporting the Du Nord Foundation Community Market?

Second Harvest Heartland’s mission is to “end hunger together.” We know that the solutions to such a large and complex problem must have solutions rooted in specific community need. The Du Nord Foundation’s Community Market represents exactly what we hope to see more of – an innovative model born out of the community. The connection with Eat for Equity through Minnesota Central Kitchen is yet another example of leveraging local resources to remove multiple barriers to food access.

How is Second Harvest Heartland supporting our organization?

 As an agency partner of Second Harvest Heartland, Du Nord Foundation Community Market is able to order food from the food bank including free donated product, inexpensive produce or purchased products sold at cost. This allows DuNord Foundation Community Market to stretch their food budget in ways that wouldn’t otherwise be available to smaller organizations. Agency partners like DuNord benefit from state and federal grants that Second Harvest Heartland receives, as well as resources, consultation and agency grant opportunities. DuNord Foundation is also a partner with Second Harvest Heartland initiative Minnesota Central Kitchen, which provides prepared meals from local kitchens. DuNord has distributed more than 3,700 meals from Eat for Equity through Minnesota Central Kitchen!

Why is this work important to your organization?

Partnership with organizations like DuNord Foundation is central to our work as a food bank. We rely on this strong partnership to inform our work and ensure we focus our time on the most pressing community needs.

What is your message to other organizations on why or how to join the efforts?

We are in the midst of what we fear could be the hungriest summer on record in Minnesota. Food shelves are seeing skyrocketing demand, fewer food sources, and less government support. Unfortunately, there is no relief in sight. It will take all of us to ensure every Minnesotan has access to enough fresh healthy food to thrive. We strongly encourage other businesses or organizations to focus their efforts on hunger relief and support organizations like DuNord Foundation. Your dollars and time are needed now more than ever.