our programs
The Food Bank is the foundation for all our programs. Second Harvest Heartland receives food donations from manufacturers, government programs and the community, which are then distributed to member non-profits, including food shelves, shelters and soup kitchens.
The Food Rescue Program – Twelve Baskets – collects unused prepared and perishable food from Twin Cities area restaurants, cafeterias, corporate food services, caterers, retail markets and special events. Rescued food is delivered in refrigerated trucks directly to member agencies.
Child Hunger Programs help provide healthy snack and meal components and nutrition education to eligible after-school and summer care services.
The Commodity Supplemental Food Program provides 35-pound boxes of nutritionally balanced USDA food every month at no cost to approximately 10,000 income-eligible pregnant and post-partum women, children up to the age of six and seniors 60 and older.
The Food Outreach program is one way to increase the amount of supplemental food available to hungry families as well as support the efforts of food shelves to reach more people in need, especially in areas that may need additional resources.
The Purchase Program supplements food donations. Volume purchasing power and national networks allow us to buy large quantities of nutritious food and household items that are not typically donated.
Our Produce Program receives fresh fruit and vegetable donations and distributes them to local neighborhoods.