We often tell you about upcoming events, volunteer activities or how you can make a financial contribution to help our neighbors in need, but our promotional opportunities give you the chance to make a difference right in your own neighborhood.

Often times, in an effort to help do even more, local businesses will offer promotions to benefit Second Harvest Heartland. Restaurants such as Famous Dave’s give you the chance to round up your bill to the nearest dollar and they will donate the extra funds to us. Or, if you’re a frequent Lunds and Byerly’s shopper, consider picking up one of their reusable bags. For each bag you bring with you to shop, they will donate five cents. Other promotions include a free windshield repair just for bringing in a non-perishable food item on the first Wednesday of the month to Auto Glass Today.

Check out all of our promotions designed to help those in need and promote awareness. And be sure to stop back again soon to view other promotions.

If you or your organization has a promotion you would like to offer on behalf of Second Harvest Heartland, let us know.

In just one month, the seventh annual Vintner Ball will once again be held at the Westin Edina Galleria. Join us on February 25 for this world-class, charitable wine tasting event—one you won’t want to miss.  You’ll enjoy an evening of some of the finest wines from around the world, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, and participate in a silent auction and wine seminars.  Even more, 100% of the proceeds from this event benefit Second Harvest Heartland! Because all associated costs are underwritten by the hosts and all the wine, food, auction items, marketing and facility use by donation, every dollar collected can go directly to getting more food into the hands of the people that need it.

Over the last six years, nearly $800,000 has been raised at the Vintner Ball on behalf of Second Harvest Heartland—that’s enough to provide food for nearly three million meals for our hungry neighbors.  We hope to do even more this year, but we can’t do it without you.

Join us for the 2012 Vintner Ball and help us generate warmth in the heart during the chill of winter. Tickets for the Vintner Ball are on sale now. You can RSVP here for easy registration or purchase tickets at the door the night of the event.

WCCO Radio, Taste of the NFL, General Mills, and Land O’Lakes are together again presenting the third annual Let’s Kick Hunger Day Radiothon tomorrow from 5am to 6pm at the Mall of America.

Through collaboration and support of the community, this event has generated funds to aid in the fight against hunger, supporting Second Harvest Heartland and 32 food banks through Taste of the NFL. Join the effort this year to help us do even more for our neighbors in need.

Participating in the radiothon is easy. Simply tune into WCCO Radio or stop by the Mall of America to become a Hunger Hero. Just $10 per month for a year or a one-time gift of $120 will help provide 840 meals to the hungry children, families and older adults in our community. To get involved, call 877.866.4376 between 5am to 6pm on Thursday, or click here to make a donation.

We hope you can join us in helping Kick Hunger!

Again this year, Open Your Heart awarded Second Harvest Heartland with a grant that helped to bring more food to more people in our community. As the only charitable federation in Minnesota dedicated solely to alleviating hunger and homelessness, Open Your Heart truly makes an impact on our community.

Fresh food such as watermelon, sweet corn, plums and potatoes are generally costly and difficult to obtain. But thanks to this grant, we were able to provide nearly 700,000 pounds of this fresh, nutritious produce this past year to those in our community who are hungry—the equivalent of more than 564,000 meals.

Sincere thanks to Open Your Heart for helping to bring more fresh food to the children, working families and seniors who are struggling to put food on the table.

The weather outside might be frightful—or at least cold, but that doesn’t mean that you have to stay inside this holiday season! This year, the IBEW Holidays Light in the Park is brighter than ever and offers the perfect way to spend an enjoyable evening and give back to the community.

Travel through St. Paul’s Phalen Park to view more than 50 larger-than-life holiday sculptures and animated displays, all from the comfort of your own car. And this year, there’s even an Enchanted Fairytale Forest—a handsome prince, a beautiful princess, horse and carriage, fantastic castle, mischievous wizard, and of course a fire-breathing dragon!

The event is open now through January 1 and a portion of the proceeds benefit Second Harvest Heartland and other local charities. Gather your family and friends and enjoy a holiday night in the park.

For more information, visit the Holiday Lights in the Park website.

Over the last few months, our Food Sourcing team has been working closely with the Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation to renew and expand our partnership. In June, their Board of Directors toured our warehouse, and then we joined them at their Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee tours in Cass County. And recently, our team was invited to attend the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting.

During the Annual Meeting, Farm Bureau leaders volunteered at our service center in Minneapolis. The group helped sort and package food for our neighbors in need. The Farm Bureau also took the time to visit with us and learn how they can continue to help.

To give even more, the Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation donated $1,000, with a challenge that once 1,000 “likes” are reached on the Minnesota Farmers Care Facebook page, another $1,000 will be donated.

As we continue to look to new ways to bring more fresh food to our neighbors in need, this partnership is more important than ever. Our Agricultural Surplus initiative—From Harvest to Home—works with farmers to collect excess produce and get it into the hands of those who are hungry. By partnering with the Farm Bureau, we can connect with more farmers to raise awareness of the program.

Tony Mans, our Director of Food Sourcing says that he is excited about the relationship with the Minnesota Farm Bureau. “This group will be extremely beneficial in helping us spread awareness and expand our From Harvest to Home program and we can’t thank them enough for their support,” he said.

We look forward to continue working with the Minnesota Farm Bureau to help bring more food to more people.  You can help the Minnesota Farmers Care Facebook Page get 1,000 “Likes.” Click here to “like” them now.

Members of the Food Sourcing team with Kristen Harner, from the Minnesota Farm Bureau Foundation

The holidays are quickly approaching and that means it’s time to reflect back on the year and look ahead to 2012. But it also means it’s time to select the perfect gift for your loved ones, friends, family and colleagues!

There are hundreds of gift options to choose from, but this year, why not give a gift that gives back to our community? By choosing to make a gift through Second Harvest Heartland, you can show others you appreciate them while making a difference in the lives of our hungry neighbors.

There are three gift options to choose from:

			Tribute gift A gift of $100 in the name of a friend, colleague or loved one provides a months worth of meals to a family of four. Click here to donate online.
			Gift Basket Say thank you to friends, family and colleagues with Hillary’s Heartland Hunger Relief Gift Basket. 10% of proceeds benefit Second Harvest Heartland. Click here to learn more or purchase a basket.
			Community Connection Card A pre-paid card available in a range of dollar values that can be redeemed at more than 80 participating retailers, such as The Home Depot, Old Navy, CVS Pharmacy and more! Click here for a full list and to purchase a card.

This year, we hope you will consider giving a gift that gives back. For more information about each option or to make a gift today, click here. Thank you for your continued support of our efforts. We hope you and your family have a joyous holiday season!

It’s once again time for The Great Minnesota Give Together—the third annual Give to the Max Day. Next Wednesday, thousands of people from around the state of Minnesota will join together to donate online in support of their favorite charities.

We’re excited to announce that we’re again featuring a matching fund of more than $100,000 thanks to The Mosaic Company and a small group of generous individuals. And new this year, if you make a gift of $100 or more, we’ll send you a hand-colored postcard from a child who benefits from one of our programs. Check out the video below which features the kids in action.

Last year, the contributions made to Second Harvest Heartland on Give to the Max Day were enough to provide 1.3 million meals to our hungry neighbors right here in the heartland. With your help, we can provide even more this year.

To help you remember to Give to the Max, sign up to receive an email next Wednesday morning so you don’t forget.

Help us do even better this year…Give to the Max!

There’s still time to get your tickets for the Taste of the Vikings, the annual event hosted by the Taste of the NFL and the Minnesota Vikings. This exciting event gives you the chance to help kick childhood hunger while mingling with current and former Minnesota Vikings players and sampling great food from some of the finest restaurants in the Twin Cities! Check out photos from last year’s event below.

Those who attend the Taste of the Vikings will help support Second Harvest Heartland and the Vikings Children’s Fund Summer Lunch Program in providing much-needed meals for Minnesota children next summer.

Don’t miss out on this unique experience! Call 952.918.8405 to get your tickets to the Taste of the Vikings today.

These tough economic conditions are hard on so many people throughout our communities, but for older Americans with low or fixed incomes, it can be a serious struggle. Seniors often fall into patterns of eating less to make their dollars go further, and those that have limited mobility or access to transportation are forced to spend more money for less food in small markets and convenience stores. And many older Americans don’t take advantage of the program available to them, such as SNAP (Food Support or Food Stamps).

To bring awareness to the prevalence of senior hunger and to provide resources for our older neighbors in need, Second Harvest Heartland has teamed with UnitedHealthcare and WCCO-TV during the month of October.

There are programs and resources available, but asking for help can be difficult. And many individuals aren’t even aware of some of the programs for which they are eligible. In the video below, our friend Gladys tells her personal story of her struggle with hunger and admits that pride was a barrier that she had to overcome in order to get the food she needed to live a healthy life.

For more information on senior hunger and to find local resources, click here.