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   DULUTH – In February, Second Harvest Northland (SHN) kicked off the public phase of its $20 million Nourish the Northland Capital Campaign, which aims to strengthen its capacity to increase the amount and variety of food available to its agency and community partners and neighbors facing hunger within its 15-county NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin service region.

   The public phase announcement included $1.05 million in matching gift opportunities for individuals, corporations, and volunteers contributing to their campaign. This opportunity has now been extended through December 31, 2025, with $713,405 remaining thanks to an individual gift match by Royal and Karen Alworth, a corporate/business gift match by Super One Foods/Miner’s Inc. and the Miner Family, and a volunteer gift match by an anonymous volunteer—providing an opportunity to double campaign gifts.

   “We’re incredibly encouraged by our region’s response to our Nourish the Northland campaign thus far,” said Shaye Moris, President/CEO, Second Harvest Northland. “Already our new facility is supporting an increase in the top 3 foods desired by our neighbors—fresh produce, dairy, and meat/fish/poultry. Extending our matching gift opportunities through year-end allows others to leverage support for their gifts, which ensures an even greater impact on Northland families, children, and seniors.” 

   Phase 1 of Second Harvest Northland’s Nourish the Northland Capital Campaign was completed in January and included construction of a $4.2 million, 13,600-square-foot freezer/cooler that will increase SHN’s capacity for fresh and perishable food by 300% and dry food capacity by 210%. It also included drive-through Food Shelf Program space which has supported 915 neighbors weekly—an 8% increase from its former Airpark facility.

   Phase 2 will include construction of its Volunteer and Community Engagement Center to strengthen community involvement and a market-style food access space, which will allow neighbors to select food in a grocery store-like setting—complementing SHN’s existing drive-through food distribution.

   For more information about Second Harvest Northland or its Nourish the Northland Capital Campaign, contact (218) 727-5653 or [email protected], or visit www.secondharvestnorthland.org.

   About Second Harvest Northland: Second Harvest Northland is the region’s only “food bank,” accessing nationally and regionally donated and purchased product for 107 agency and community partners (food shelves, on-site meal programs, and tribal organizations), 276 programs, and approximately 70,000 food-insecure children, seniors, and adults throughout 15 counties in NE Minnesota (St. Louis, Carlton, Lake, Cook, Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Itasca, Koochiching, Kanabec, and Mille Lacs counties) and NW Wisconsin (Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, and Iron counties). In addition to providing food to other non-profit programs, Second Harvest provides support to thousands of neighbors directly as part of its two Food Shelf, Mobile Food Pantry, Nutrition for Seniors, School Pantry, and BackPack Programs. Over the last year, Second Harvest has accessed and distributed nearly 13 million pounds of food, or the equivalent of almost 11 million meals, for people experiencing hunger throughout the Northland.

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