A major merger to announce on this Monday. Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank and Second Harvest North Central Food Bank are now just one organization.

Effective January 1st, they are now Second Harvest Northland. Both are proud to have served their communities for 40 years.

Leaders from the organizations made the announcement on Monday at the airpark location in Duluth.

In a press release, Second Harvest Northland says the benefits and impact of our merger include:

• Increase the amount and variety of nutritious food we’re able to access and distribute to our agency and community partners (food shelves, on-site meal programs, tribal organizations) and neighbors experiencing hunger
• Innovate to strengthen our unique programs and services; ensure dignified and equitable food access for our agency and community partners and neighbors experiencing hunger
• Offer a better variety and more enriching opportunities for public engagement for our volunteers, food and financial donors, and others within our region
• Scale higher level organizational capacity (programs, services, fundraising, food sourcing, public engagement, financial management, human resources, technology, and advocacy)
• Reduce overhead and duplication; optimize our efficiency
• Offer greater opportunity for employee advancement and engagement

See more, on The Five!