1. Stories Hope
Winter 2012
of
Events
LEARN ABOUT THE POWERFUL ROLE OF OUR ANNUAL EVENTS
2012
Pg. 4
In the business of caring
INSIDE
Dine, bid and laugh at Dish
Thanks for helping kick hunger
Stamp Out Hunger in May Pg. 2 Pg. 5 Pg. 6

2. The Mission Beyond
the Mission
A message from our Executive Director
Healthy Hunger Relief
You know Second Harvest taken a leading role in several for more than 25% of the food we
Heartland as an organization pioneering programs to provide distributed last year.
committed to fighting hunger in healthy food options for people at
new and sustainable ways. Our top risk of hunger. While I know we’ve told you a
priority is to secure enough food to bit about these programs in past
help serve the families, children From Harvest to Home is a newer newsletters, I think it’s important
and seniors who need it most. We program that pairs Minnesota to continue to reiterate—our
collect and distribute millions growers with food banks like donors, volunteers, advocates and
of pounds of food every year Second Harvest Heartland to friends—that we are not only doing
through our network of agency collect un-harvested or unsold everything we can to ensure more
partners. The food we offer includes crops. In its first year, the program food for our neighbors, but also to
everything from fruits and collected more than 14 trucks be the best possible stewards of
vegetables to packaged foods, full of sweet corn, more than 1 your support. We couldn’t do this
breakfast cereals and snacks. million pounds of potatoes and a important work without you.
mixed truck full of watermelon, Thank you.
We know how important a balanced green peppers and sweet corn.
diet is to staying healthy; for kids to Meals for Minds is a new school
do well in school; for parents to pantry program that distributes
have the energy to pick up extra fresh produce and other
hours at work when money is tight; grocery items at eight schools in
and for seniors at risk of health low-income areas. And Food
issues to maintain their strength. Rescue, our fastest-growing source Rob Zeaske,
As the need for food has increased of food, is a partnership with more CEO
over the past three years, so have than 275 retail stores that donate
our efforts to collect fresh foods. produce, dairy, meat, bakery and
Thanks to your support, we’ve other items. Food Rescue accounted
Together we are
transforming hunger relief.
You can help. Mark your calendar with these events.
Go to 2harvest.org/events. for more details.
Dish: Cuisine for Change Get in Gear Stamp Out Hunger
April 19 • Saint Paul River Center April 30 • Minnehaha Park May 14 • Your mailbox
Dish is an elegant evening of fine food, Raise funds by participating in the Help us reach our goal of 1.3 million
exciting auctions items, wine tasting Get in Gear 10K, 5K Run/Walk, Half pounds this year by donating right at
and fabulous entertainment, all Marathon or 2K Fun Run. your mailbox.
benefiting Second Harvest Heartland. Click here for more information. To learn more, click here.
To purchase tickets and tables, click here.
1.

3. In The Business of Caring
For more than seven years, members and
employees of Affinity Plus Federal Credit
Union branches from across the state have
been teaming up to make a difference in the
lives of our hungry neighbors.
Through a month long Food & Fund Drive,
they strive to reach their goal of collecting food Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union
and funds while helping our hungry neighbors.
And with their passionate plan to create
awareness about the need, they are able to do extra opportunities to wear jeans to work if they
just that. participate. “Affinity Plus has always strived to
hire passionate and caring people and it
Affinity Plus members participate in the drive can be seen through their participation in the
and help it go even further. “Our members want drive—they all really want to help,” Sandra told
to give back and they care about people in our us. As the economy has continues to weaken,
communities,” Sandra Olson, Event Affinity Plus knows the need is great. “It’s not
Coordinator/Member Advisor of Affinity just other people in need anymore, our members
Plus said. may now need the extra help and because of
this, we want to make sure we are reaching out
In order for their members to be able to give to help as many people as we can.” Sandra says.
back even more, Affinity Plus gives them the “It really is a drive in which our members are
opportunity to turn in points they receive not only helping just people they may not know,
through their banking account and use them but instead it is members helping members and
to donate cash to the drive. “Members could we take comfort in knowing we can help the
use these points to reduce the rate on their car people we see every day.”
loans or mortgages, but instead they choose to
donate it,” Sandra says. “We are fortunate to Since 2003, Affinity Plus has collected more
have such kind members.” than $66,000 and 10,000 pounds of food, all
of which helps those in need in our community.
It’s not just members that are a part of the Sandra told us, “We know what we are able
drive, employees give back, too. Branches to raise goes directly into the hands of those
throughout the state compete to see who can in need and it is great we can support
collect the most food and funds and are given our communities.”
Presented by
Dish: Cuisine for Change is
an evening of sumptuous food,
CUISINE FOR CHANGE exquisite wine,auction items
and uproarious entertainment
in support of Second Harvest
THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012
SAINT PAUL RIVERCENTRE • 6-10 PM Heartland—the region’s largest
2. hunger-relief organization.

4. Events
LEARN ABOUT THE POWERFUL ROLE OF OUR ANNUAL EVENTS
2 0 1 2
DISH VINTNERBALL TASTEOFTHEVIKINGS FOODMANIA FOOD&FUNDDRIVES
Each year, hundreds of people, organizations and other groups gather
together in support of Second Harvest Heartland. The variety of
supporting events varies from birthday or graduation fundraisers in
place of gifts, to food and wine events that draw hundreds of people
and hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of hunger relief in our
communities.
No matter the size or type of event, the collective power of these events
in support of our work has a truly transformational impact on what
we’re able to accomplish. We wanted to take a moment to highlight
some of the most notable benefitting events and extend our sincere
thanks to our community partners and friends who put in a significant
amount of time and energy to make them possible.
Vintner Ball
Wine lovers sip for a cause
For the past five years, a group of wine enthusiasts have curated hun-
VINTNER BALL
dreds of fine wines from around the world, hors d'oeuvres and auction
items to create the Vintner Ball. Over time, the event has collected
more than $800,000 in donations—enough to provide nearly 3 million
meals to those in need. This year’s Vintner Ball took place two weeks
ago at the Westin Edina Galleria.
View photos from past years’ events >>
Taste of the Vikings
Football party helps kick childhood hunger
While the players get a break from the game on their
bye week each fall, many of them spend their Monday
mingling, signing autographs and taking pictures with
attendees of the Taste of the Vikings. Modeled after the
national event, Taste of the NFL, Taste of the Vikings is
the “party with a purpose” that combines the culinary
talents of local chefs, NFL celebrities and hunger-relief.
Last year’s event raised more than $80,000 to help kick
TASTE OF THE VIKINGS childhood hunger right here in our communities.
Check out photos from the event >>
3.

5. Events
DISH VINTNERBALL TASTEOFTHEVIKINGS FOODMANIA FOOD&FUNDDRIVE
2 0 1 2
DISH VINTNERBALL TASTEOFTHEVIKINGS FOODMANIA FOOD&FUNDDRIVES
Dish: Cuisine for Change
Annual fundraising gala inspires transformation and feeds hope
While Dish is organized by Second Harvest Heartland staff, the
successes we’ve experienced have only been made possible by our
generous supporters. For the past nine years, our signature gala has
featured some of the finest food from the Twin Cities, entertainment
and live and silent auctions—all in support of providing more food for
our neighbors in need. Last year, the event raised nearly $500,000 in
support of our work; the event is our largest single-day fundraiser and
is made possible only by the nearly 1,500 attendees and generous
sponsors, restaurants and auction donors.
Learn more or get tickets to this year’s event >>
Stamp Out Hunger
Letter carriers collect food on doorsteps across the nation
DISH
Stamp Out Hunger is the world’s largest single-day food drive, collecting
more than 70 million pounds of food across the United States. The
National Association of Letter Carriers partners with food banks, food
shelves and pantries on a local level to collect bags of food donated
on the doorsteps of the carriers’ normal routes, then deliver the goods to
the hunger-relief organizations. Locally, the drive wouldn’t be possible
without the generous donation of time by the National Association of
Vintner Ball Letter Carriers Branch 9, Minneapolis and Branch 28, St. Paul; Cub Foods;
February 25th KARE 11; Minnesota Transport Services Association and partners; and
Dish: Cuisine for Change WCCO Radio.
April 19th Stay tuned for updates about this year’s event >>
Food Mania Food & Fund Drives
July 16th-27th Neighborhoods and corporations alike gather cans and coins
to fight hunger
Taste Of NFL Canned food drives are an age-old practice for groups looking for a
Fall 2012 charitable component of events or employee campaigns. But more and
Food & Fund Drives more organizations and individuals are making a bigger impact today
Throughout 2012 than ever before. In 2011, more than 1,000 drives collected nearly $800,000
and 320,000 pounds of food: enough to provide more than 3 million meals
to our hungry neighbors.
Learn more or start your own drive >>
4.

6. Voices of Hunger
THE FRONT LINES OF HUNGER RELIEF
SARAH KRENTZ:
Child Hunger Specialist
While collecting food at a Target Meals for Minds School needs about 27 volunteers and they couldn’t function
Pantry event recently, a teary-eyed mom looked to Sarah without the support. “We are always looking for addi-
Krentz and said, “Before we had this opportunity to come tional help and if anyone has interest in interacting with
here and get food, we had bare cabinets and I didn’t know the public, then this is the perfect
how I was going to provide for my kids, but now this opportunity for them to do just that.”
program means so much to me. You have taken the worry
off of my plate.” Sarah knows all of this work is only needed if families
participate in the program. “We have to show families
These stories are heard often and remind Sarah, Child that Meals for Minds is a program they can rely on
Hunger Specialist at Second Harvest Heartland, how and it will be here again,” she says. “If we make it a good
important her work is. In her busy role facilitating Meals shopping experience, they will come back and spread the
for Minds sites across our communities, Sarah helps get
food to families in need...and it is no small feat. to the agencies that need it,” Gus said. “It’s incredible to see the
With funding from Target, the Meals for Minds
“
increase get to interactsupport we receive so that we can
I in poundage, and the with volunteers who
get the food to those who impact
make direct need it.” on those in need.
School Pantry Program helps provide food at schools It really is why I love what I do.
across the Twin Cities. Each month during the school
year, a grocery distribution site is set up inside eight
A typical day for Gus starts around 6:00 a.m. He organizes the
”
participating schools, and families can receive groceries
word to others in their community.” By working with
for each child enrolled at the school. Since the program’s
school principals, teachers and parents, they are able to
inception in 2010, more than 460,000 pounds of food has
create awareness about the program and ultimately
been distributed, providing enough food for more than
increase participation. By creating a positive experience,
350,000 meals for families.
Meals for Minds has had a 30% increase in participation
compared to last year’s program.
Before the groceries are even distributed, much help is
needed from staff and volunteers. “These events require a
“I am constantly reminded of how rewarding my job is,”
lot of hands-on work; not only do volunteers help prepare
says Sarah. “I get to see the look on families faces when
the food so people can easily get what they need, but they
they receive food and I get to interact with volunteers
are also interfacing directly with the public and that
who make direct impact on those in need. It really is why I
makes this opportunity unique.” Each distribution site
love what I do.”
January 12th marked the second annual Let’s Kick Hunger Day radiothon,
when hundreds of hunger-relief activists and WCCO Radio listeners called
in to pledge their support. Thanks to the callers, sponsors and generous
talents of the on-air hosts, this year’s event raised more than $160,000 in
total—50% of which stay local to fight hunger her in our communities, and
the other 50% distributed through NFL markets throughout the country.
Special thanks to General Mills, Land O’Lakes, Taste of the NFL and
WCCO Radio for making this special event possible.
5.

7. Stamp Out Hunger
There are many ways to tell when spring is upon us:
rain showers, blooming flowers and greener grass.
BEYOND
ABOVE & But another sign of the season is bags plump full of
food at mailboxes across the Twin Cities.
Each year, Second Harvest Heartland is supported
by Stamp Out Hunger, the National Association of Hunger, we are able to help people. It really is very
Letter Carriers’ annual food drive in which letter important and an event our members enjoy being a
carriers collect hundreds of thousands of pounds of part of.”
food from doorsteps. Last year alone, this event
collected nearly 900,000 pounds of food for our Without the tremendous amount of energy and effort
neighbors in need. What may seem like a simple from the letter carriers, Stamp Out Hunger wouldn’t
event—setting food out by your mailbox—actually be possible. On the day of the event, letter carriers
entails a remarkable amount of work from numerous are not only responsible for delivering and collecting
groups of people throughout our community. the mail, but they are also tasked with picking up
food that has been left at mailboxes. It doesn’t end
AN EXTRA EFFORT FOR OUR there, once their route is complete, they drop off all
the food they collected at participating Cub Food
HUNGRY NEIGHBORS locations. From there, the trucks that the Minnesota
Transport Services Association members provide,
And it all begins with awareness. Cub Foods takes deliver the food to Second Harvest Heartland.
the lead by distributing Stamp Out Hunger branded
bags in their stores and letter carriers distribute them “As mail carriers, we are in neighborhoods six
to mailboxes notifying and reminding the general day a week and we know there is a great need,” says
public that the event is coming. Mike Zagaros, President of the National Association
of Letter Carriers (Branch (9)). “But with just a little
And day of logistics planning wouldn’t be effort on our part, we can make a big difference in the
possible without support from the Minnesota lives of those in need.” What’s more is the letter
Transport Services Association and their member carriers are happy to help. “They are always cheerful
companies. From their help with scheduling local and enthusiastic,” Howard told us about the letter
moving companies for day-of activities to delivering carriers. “It really is an honor and a pleasure to work
the food to Second Harvest Heartland - it takes with them.”
coordination and effort from all involved.
This year’s Stamp Out Hunger event takes place on
Howard Markus, Executive Director of the Saturday, May 12. Planning is already well underway,
Minnesota Transport Services Association, knows bringing people an incredible amount of people
there is a need for food and this is just one of together, all for the greater good. Watch for the blue
the ways the association works to support our Cub Foods bag in your mailbox and remember to put
community. “Hunger is a large problem in our food out to help our neighbors in need.
community, but by participating in Stamp Out
Click here to learn more.
Foodshare Campaign
Each March, Minnesota FoodShare directs the
largest food drive in the state and restocks 300 food
shelves across Minnesota. It recruits thousands of
congregations, companies, schools and civic groups
to run local food and fund drives to aid in the effort.
To Contribute Directly to the 2012 March Campaign,
visit 2harvest.org/marchcampaign. To find out how
your company or organization can get involved,
visit mnfoodshare.gmcc.org
6.

8. Cause & Effect
You supported the cause. Here is the change you’ve effected
Food &
d Drive
It’s serious fun.
1006
#
DRIVES IN 2011
915 2010
Of Food
& Fund
Drives has
58%
risen
888 2009
Since 2007!
555 427
2008 2007
7.