Don’t miss Good Morning Northland’s 21st annual “Have a Heart, Help a Neighbor” campaign on Friday for the Second Harvest Northland. The GMN crew is excited to help raise donations to help our friends and family in need this holiday season.

Donations of food and money will be accepted at these drop-off locations on Friday morning:

• Second Harvest Northland West Facility (Grand Rapids Distribution Center)
• Miller Hill Super One
• West Duluth Super One
• Harborview Super One

You can also donate online at https://northernlakesfoodbank.org/donation 

As the region’s only food bank, Second Harvest Northland helps around 70,000 food insecure individuals each year.

“We exist to access and distribute nationally and regionally donated products and purchase products to non-profit agencies in our 15-county region,” said Second Harvest Northland President and CEO Shaye Moris. “So as many as 60 food shelves and about 300 other programs access their food from Second Harvest Northland.”

Second Harvest Northland formed on January 1, merging Second Harvest North Central Food Bank and Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank. The food bank serves agencies and people from International Falls to Princeton and from Brainerd to Hurley, Wisconsin. Within the 15-county region, food insecurity is a real issue.

“We probably reach about 70,000 food insecure individuals each year in our region,” said Moris. “In fact, we have a higher rate of food insecurity in all 15 counties amongst our general population and our population of children when you compare that to Minnesota, Wisconsin state averages. So a high level of need, partly because of economic factors, partly because of our rural territory. Certainly hunger is complex. So there’s a lot of reasons for that, but certainly we do have a higher level of need.”

The already high level of need has been increasing.

“Last week at our own food shelf here at Second Harvest Northland, we had a record day of distribution. We served five hundred and forty four households in one day. We’re seeing that need increase in our region just amongst all of our six area food shelves, more children and about 15 percent more seniors this year. So it’s really important that people give,” emphasized Moris.

For every dollar received, they are able to buy three meals.

“We do that because we’re accessing mostly donated products. So from our local retailers, from national sources,” explained Moris. “We don’t pay for the food. We only pay for transportation, storage, and handling of that product. From getting it here and back out again in our 15 county region. So it’s really an efficient way to feed people in need.”

Second Harvest Northlands’s mission is to feed Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin’s hungry by rescuing and distributing food and engaging the region in the fight against hunger. The “Have a Heart, Help a Neighbor” campaign has raised 10,729 pounds of food, $157,701 and ensured 602,135 meals since inception back in 2004.

“The biggest thing we can do is raise awareness of the issue and make people understand that it’s our neighbors,” said Moris. “If we are all neighbors helping neighbors, we come together on this great day to raise awareness and also fun so that we can provide that important nutrition to families, children and seniors in our region.”

According to Second Harvest, last year’s event brought in over $4,847 and 90 pounds of food. In total, 14,613 meals was provided to our Northland neighbors.

If you are unable to donate during the “Have a Heart, Help a Neighbor” campaign, know that donations are always needed.

“Oftentimes people think of charitable organizations like ours at the holidays. There’s no specific time of year that there’s the greatest need. Holidays, of course, and the winter heating season up here, that really does have impact. But people need our support all year long,” said Moris.