Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank

Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank's primary program is Food banking. As the only "Food Bank" serving ne Minnesota (st. louis, carlton, lake and cook counties) and nw Wisconsin (douglas, bayfield, ashland and iron counties), we rescue nationally and regionally donated Food from manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and growers, for distribution to over 68 non-profit agency partners (soup kitchens, Food shelves, shelters and other charitable partners). During fiscal year 2023, we provided 5,278,000 pounds of Food and grocery product, the equivalent of 4.2 million meals, to our agency partners. Volunteers are critical to our Food Bank and its operations. Volunteers contributed 7,618 hours to our Food Bank program during fiscal year 2023, which was the equivalent of 3.7 full-time positions at our organization.

The nutrition assistance program for seniors (naps) is a federal commodity Food program administered by the Minnesota department of health and implemented locally by Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank. During fiscal year 2023, we provided commodity Food boxes to an average of 619 in-need seniors per month throughout ne Minnesota. We distributed 259,010 pounds of Food or the equivalent of 207,208 meals. On average, our naps participants received a 9-day supply of Food as part of our monthly service. Our naps program relies heavily on volunteers. Despite the continued impact of the covid-19 pandemic on our volunteer program in 2023, volunteers contributed 1,863 hours of service or the equivalent of a 0.90 full-time position at our organization.

Our Food shelf is a program operated by Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank to provide Food directly to people in our area. During fiscal year 2023, we provided Food shelf service directly to in-need children, adults and seniors who reside in hermantown, communities that are north and/or adjacent. We distributed 1,353,000 pounds of Food and grocery product to our Food shelf participants which is the equivalent of 1.4 million meals. On average, our Food shelf participants received a 14-day supply of Food for each member in their household at each visit. Our Food shelf is operated almost entirely by volunteers. During fiscal year 2023, volunteers contributed 6,531 hours of service, equivalent to 3.1 full-time positions at our organization.

Mobile Food pantry programs are operated by Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank to supplement Food distribution in ne Minnesota and nw Wisconsin communities where service is limited or in greater demand than local resources are available. During fiscal year 2023, we provided service in five (5) locations, serving in-need children, adults and seniors. We distributed 421,129 pounds of Food and grocery product to our pantry participants which is the equivalent of 336,903 meals. On average, our mobile Food pantry participants received a 6-day supply of Food for each member in their household at each visit. Despite the continued impact of the covid-19 pandemic on our volunteer program in 2023, volunteers contributed 1,363 hours of service or the equivalent of a 0.66 full-time position at our organization.

The backpack program is operated by Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank, in partnership with regional schools, to provide Food to children in need on weekends when they may be missing their federally subsidized school breakfast and/or lunch. During fiscal year 2023, we distributed 114,034 pounds of Food or the equivalent of 91,227 meals through our weekend bags supplied to children in need. On average our backpack program participants received 4.5 meals/snacks as part of our service. Despite the continued impact of the covid-19 pandemic on our volunteer program in 2023, volunteers contributed 2,291 hours of service or the equivalent of a 1.1 full-time positions at our organization.