Join us one week from today, Tuesday, January 5 for The Biggest Loser Season Premiere Party at Solera in Downtown Minneapolis!

Beginning at 6:00pm, you’ll enjoy hors d’oeurves, a cash bar, exciting enter-to-win opportunities and other Biggest Loser-related freebies. Two lucky guests will win a Nintendo Wii gaming system and Wii Fit!

Grab a seat at 7:00 for the show, and enjoy even more entertainment, fitness tips and other activities with KS95′ s Staci Matthews during commercial breaks. Register now and be entered to win a VIP package, including preferred seating at the event.

Space is limited, so click here to register now!

Why are we throwing a party for The Biggest Loser?

Because it’s the kickoff of the second annual Pound for Pound Challenge, of course! This exciting fundraising program was formed by a partnership of NBC’s The Biggest Loser, General Mills and Feeding America to encourage Americans to “Lose Nationally, Feed Locally.”

Sign up and pledge your weight loss goals at www.pfpchallenge.com. For every pound you pledge, the Pound for Pound Challenge will donate 14 cents to Feeding America – enough to deliver one pound of groceries to a local food bank. The more signups and pledges in our area, the more donations will come to Second Harvest Heartland to help feed those in need right here in our community.

Coming to the event? That’s great. You can pledge your pounds online at pfpchallenge.com, or just sign up at the party.

But remember, space is limited–so register for the party now!

All of us at Second Harvest Heartland are deeply saddened by the passing of the Rev. Dick Goebel. As the founder of what is today Second Harvest Heartland, Dick had a tremendous impact on hunger relief in our community—both in terms of getting food to those in need and inspiring others to join in the fight to end hunger. Dick’s heartfelt enthusiasm, tremendous vision, boundless compassion, and respect for others will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with Dick’s family at this difficult time.

Rob Zeaske
Executive Director
Second Harvest Heartland

Rev. Dick Goebel passed away Sunday, December 20, at age 73. Dick founded the Greater St. Paul Second Harvest Food Bank in 1982 and remained its executive director until his retirement in 2001. Dick contributed to the creation of the Second Harvest Greater Minneapolis Food Bank, which later merged with the St. Paul Food Bank to become Second Harvest Heartland. His dedicated service left a lasting legacy, and his memory is cherished by everyone at Second Harvest Heartland and in the greater hunger relief community.

Swing into the holiday season and support Second Harvest Heartland by picking up your copies of Home for the Holidays: A Minnesota Christmas and Christmas Jam: The Best of the Midwest.  These CD’s provide festive holiday entertainment to be shared with family and friends while making the holidays just a bit brighter for our hungry neighbors.  

Home for the Holidays: A Minnesota Christmas

15 local musicians team up to celebrate the holidays and to raise money for IBEW Holiday Lights in the Park, benefiting Second Harvest Heartland and other local charities.  This collection of holiday favorites can be purchased for $9.99 at all metro-area Target stores and includes a free ticket to the IBEW Holiday Lights in the Park at Phalen Park in St. Paul.  The CD can also be purchased while visiting the Holiday Lights tour.

Christmas Jam: Best of the Midwest

Ramblin Ranch & Tree House Productions present Christmas Jam: The Best of the Midwest, a collaborative project made possible by countless hours of volunteer effort.  This homegrown compilation of holiday classics benefits Second Harvest Heartland and other local food shelves, Christmas Jam can be purchased at Best Buy, the Electric Fetus, and Cheapo.

This year, as Thanksgiving approached, I was decidedly thankful. For me and my household, 2009 was a bountiful year by any objective measure. However, both from my own circles as well as from news story after news story about the economy, it is painfully clear that the same was not true for many in MN and beyond.

So, when I as pushing my cart through the aisles of the grocery store, filling the cart with food for that one day, I couldn’t help but think about the statistic that impressed me most about Second Harvest Heartland when I first heard about the organization: that they turn every dollar donated into $9 worth of food to distribute.

Looking at my cart full of food (somewhere in the baking aisle), I came to a snap decision. For every dollar spent for my family gathering from the good year I had, I’d donate a matching dollar to Second Harvest, which they turn into nine dollars to help those who had more difficulty this year.

Once I decided, I’m fairly certain I started adding food to my cart with nearly reckless abandon. While I was feeding a fairly large group and for most of the day (not just the big meal), I was still startled when my cashier told me my total: $305.

However, I’m fairly certain she was even more startled when I grinned as I pulled out my wallet. I explained my plan to her as well as the 9:1 ratio from Second Harvest. As the giant receipt printed, she said she’d be telling other customers about the idea.

Over the next couple of days, I shared the idea with people over Twitter and in person. A few told me that they would join me on a different ratio or just giving a fixed donation and one quietly shared that their sister was actually someone who needed the help of a food shelf this year.

Earlier this week, I rounded my grocery bill up to $350 and made my donation. Based on that amazing ratio, Second Harvest will be able to distribute $3150 in food. After reflecting on the experience, I’m going to be doing this every Thanksgiving. Will you join me next year?

–
J Wynia
Minneapolis, MN
http://wynia.org