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 Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending hunger in southwestern Wisconsin, where more than 100,000 people – 40 percent who are children – struggle with hunger. Through food and financial donations, Second Harvest Foodbank acquires and distributes food to more than 200 partner agencies, including emergency food pantries, in 16 counties.
In fiscal year 2009 (July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009), Second Harvest Foodbank distributed 6.8 million pounds of food and is on pace to distribute more than 8.5 million pounds of food in fiscal year 2010 (July 1, 2009-June 30, 2010). Since its 1986 inception, the Foodbank has distributed more than 56 million pounds of food.
Second Harvest Foodbank is also a United Way donor designation agency. For every dollar contributed, $0.95 goes directly to programs. In addition to food acquisition and distribution, Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin administers these programs:
- BackPack Program: Backpacks filled with nutritious foods provide nourishment on long weekends and other out-of-school times for children at risk of hunger. In conjunction with school districts and community agencies, backpacks are filled and discretely given to children. The BackPack Program currently serves more than 700 children in the Elroy, Evansville and Tomah School Districts.
- Kids Cafe Program: In partnership with local community agencies and the University of Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program, Second Harvest Foodbank operates seven Kids Cafes in Madison where youth receive free, wholesome meals and snacks and participate in nutrition education and academic and recreational activities. Since 1999, our Kids Cafes have provided more than 330,000 meals and hundreds of hours of nutrition education to children.
- Food Rescue Program: Each week, the Food Rescue Program's trucks and drivers recover a variety of nutritious produce, dairy, meat, bakery and shelf stable items from retailers, including 15 Walmart Supercenters. More than one million pounds of food are rescued every year.
- FoodShare Outreach Program: Second Harvest Foodbank's FoodShare Outreach Program ensures people at risk of hunger and eligible for FoodShare Wisconsin (food stamp) benefits are aware of how to obtain FoodShare benefits. It also meets larger community needs by drawing down federal dollars into the local economy. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates each $5 in FoodShare benefits results in $9.20 in economic activity.
- Mobile Pantry Program: In partnership with a member agency, Second Harvest Foodbank trucks food to a neighborhood site at a prescheduled time for immediate distribution to residents. In 2008-2009, the Mobile Pantry Program distributed more than 2.6 million pounds of food, and is serving hundreds of people with each scheduled visit.
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin is one of 200 member foodbanks of Feeding America, the nation's largest charitable hunger-relief organization, engaging our country in the fight to end hunger. For more information about Second Harvest Foodbank, visit www.secondharvestmadison.org.
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