Chanhassen Dinner Theatres and its audiences and employees generously contributed and exceeded the goal to raise $20,000 at this year’s Feast or Famine Food Drive. Through their hard work and dedication to the mission, they raised $24,225.85 to donate to Second Harvest Heartland, to provide food for those in need in our community.

With hungry Minnesotans missing 125 million meals every year, we need the collaboration of community partners like Chanhassen Dinner Theaters to begin to fill this gap.

Sincere thanks to all who participated!

Our current featured Food & Fund Drive is Old Navy’s “One Can Make a Difference” drive! Bring in a donation of nonperishable items to your local Old Navy store between today, October 21 and October 25 to receive 10% off your entire purchase! All Old Navy stores in the Twin Cities metro area are participating. Click here to find the Old Navy nearest you!

Yesterday, we received an email from Andrew Blake, volunteer coordinator at Totino-Grace High School, who came to Irish Mountain Orchard this past weekend and volunteered with his wife and some students. “We found out about the opportunity in an e-newsletter from Second Harvest, and our school is always looking for new service opportunities,” Andrew said. “This was a homecoming service project for us, so my students were up the night before until probably 1:00 am coming home from the school dance or somebody’s house after the football game. We came from Fridley, MN so I had them come to school at 6:45 in the morning. Needless to say, they didn’t get a lot of rest the night before!”

Every year in Minnesota alone, an estimated 224 million pounds of unused food goes to waste. It’s the goal of Second Harvest Heartland and participating Minnesota Orchards to glean as many nutritious apples as possible before the winter freeze, and deliver them to the hungry families, children and seniors who need them most. With the dedication of volunteers like Andrew and his students, we hope to collect even more fresh apples from Minnesota orchards than we did last year–more than 200,000 pounds.

“As we were making the collection boxes, we couldn’t believe we would need that many. Of course once we started collecting apples, the group working boxes could hardly keep them coming fast enough,” Andrew continued. “I think one of my favorite parts of the whole thing was knowing that each apple would get to a family. For awhile, with each apple I picked I tried to imagine a kid who would get that apple at home or at school in their lunch. I even tried to say a small blessing over each one until I realized it was slowing me down as so I stopped praying and started picking faster!”

All of us at Second Harvest Heartland extend a hearfelt “thanks” to the students at Totino-Grace and all other volunteers who have helped with the apple gleaning initiative this fall. Your efforts are incredibly important, and we couldn’t do this work without your help.

Know that families, children and seniors in our community are enjoying the “fruits of your labor”–literally–and giving thanks for your generosity and hard work.

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If you would like to learn more about how you can get involved with the volunteer program at Second Harvest Heartland, please click here. Simply fill out the short form, and someone will get back to you!
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For 16 years, NFL teams across the country have been partnering with local food banks and other hunger-relief organizations to help “tackle hunger” at Taste of the NFL. Last year, the funds raised from Taste of the NFL here in Minnesota seeded the Minnesota Vikings’ effort to help feed more hungry children during the summer months. This year, 100% of the proceeds raised from Taste of the NFL will support the efforts of the Vikings Children’s Fund and Second Harvest Heartland to expand the Vikings Children’s Fund Summer Lunch Program for 2010. With roughly 216,000 children going without the adequate nutrition they need during the summer, this effort is more important than ever before.

Not only will your attendance at Taste of the NFL support this important cause – but you’ll have a chance to rub elbows with your favorite Vikings players and taste the finest food and wine the Twin Cities have to offer. Sample food creations from top local chefs, taste exquisite E&J Gallo wine, personally receive player autographs and more.

Join us, won’t you? Tickets to Taste of the NFL are only $150 – a $25 discount – until October 12th. Click here to purchase yours now.