Hunger Matters » Give Help

Kids Eat Free this summer- new tools to find free meals for kids ages 1-18

Lindsi — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:54:11 +0000

During the school year, approximately 290,000 Minnesota children receive free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. However, when the school year ends for the summer, only about 20% of these kids continue to receive these low-cost or free nutritious meals. That means that for nearly three months out of every year, more than 232,000 children in Minnesota aren’t getting the nourishment they need.

To fill the nutritional gap facing these children during the summer months, Second Harvest Heartland has teamed up with the Minnesota Vikings and Target to work with the Minnesota Department of Education to help facilitate the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in Minnesota and help bring more meals to more kids this summer.

Do you know a family who could use a little extra help with food this summer?

Check out the Summer Lunch Map, an easy-to-use tool for finding free food for kids across the state this summer. Families can also call 2-1-1 from a landline or text 612-516-FOOD for locations.

Want to help?

Click here to make a gift. Together, we can ensure healthy, plentiful meals for Minnesota kids who need them to grow and thrive.

Take Action Against Hunger! Help match the $100,000 Bremer Challenge Gift.

Heather — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 14:51:38 +0000

Bremer Bank kicked off its fifth annual “Taking Action Against Hunger” campaign this June! Bremer recognizes the growing need for food during the summer months, when more families utilize food shelves as children are home from school and have less access to subsidized meal programs.

You can help match the $100,000 Bremer Challenge Gift by making a gift today. Anytime between now and the end of the month, you can:

Stop by your local Bremer Bank to make a gift.
Click here to donate online.
New! Text to give. Text BREMER to 27722 to make a $10 donation to Second Harvest Heartland on behalf of Bremer Bank. Message and data rates may apply.*

*A one-time donation of $10 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. You will also receive up to 1 message per day from Second Harvest Heartland Alerts. Msg&Data rates may apply. All charges are billed by and payable to your mobile service provider. Service is available on most carriers. Donations are collected for the benefit of the Second Harvest Heartland by the mGive Foundation and subject to the terms found at www.mGive.com/A. To unsubscribe text STOP to 27722, for help text HELP to 27722.

Hunger in America – New report released by Feeding America

Rob — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:36:37 +0000

The study released today from Feeding America reports that more than 37 million people in America receive emergency food each year through the nation’s network of food banks and the agencies we serve. The findings represent a staggering 46 percent increase since the 2006 study.

While it’s no secret that the economy has taken its toll on the country and on our neighbors, it’s staggering to consider that that in the Second Harvest Heartland service area alone, hunger has doubled. Twice as many people in our community are visiting food shelves and soup kitchens than they were just five years ago.

Key takeaways:

The number of people served annually through SHH in 2005 equaled 224,200; the number now totals 468,000.
40 percent of households served each year have at least one child under the age of 18.
While we primarily serve the working poor, this study demonstrates the devastating impact of the weakening economy, which over the past two years has left more Americans without work, without homes and without food. Only 36 percent of households we serve now have at least one employed adult (168,480), a 12 percent decrease.

We are committed to finding innovative ways of securing more food and increasing participation in existing and funded food assistance and nutrition programs, and will leave no stone unturned as we strive to put an end to hunger in our community.

Looking for a way to help? By supporting our neighbors in need, you’re supporting the community at large. With each $10 gift to Second Harvest Heartland, we can provide a month’s worth of meals to a family of four. Make a gift now >>