Programs & Services

Our food collection and distribution programs are the foundation of Second Harvest Heartland. They give us the ability to fight hunger in three key ways:

• Efficiently move astounding amounts of food to the places that directly serve the hungry.
• Get others involved, from the United States Postal Service to the employees of corporations such as General Mills, Target and Malt-O-Meal to local church and school groups.
• Spread the word about hunger in our communities, which is the most important thing we can do.

Our programs put the power to help directly into your hands. Every single person who becomes involved through a Second Harvest Heartland program is another mind thinking about the hunger problem, another step toward a solution.

Food Donations

Food & Fund Drives
Second Harvest Heartland provides the tools for corporations, schools, church groups and volunteer organizations to build their own Food & Fund Drives.

Food Bank Program
The core of Second Harvest Heartland, our Food Bank is constantly accepting and distributing donations of food and groceries.

Food Rescue Program
Creates a community of giving by collecting unused and perishable food from Twin Cities area retailers, schools and other donors.

Pallet of the Month Club
Collects first-run, newly produced product on a pallet-per-month basis from local retailers.

Plant a Row
Private gardeners plant an extra row in their gardens for purposes of donation.

Giving Green
Fresh food partnerships and initiatives, including Food Rescue, Minneapolis Farmers Market and Apple Gleaning.

Food Distribution

Summer Food Service Program
Second Harvest Heartland promotes, supports and creates awareness about the program, which is facilitated through the USDA.

Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)
Provides boxes of nutritious food each month at no cost to income-eligible post-partum women 6-12 months who are not breastfeeding and who are not served by WIC, and children between the ages of five and six and to low income seniors age 60 and older.

To volunteer for a Second Harvest Heartland program, click here to learn how to help.