Second Harvest is a nonprofit organization that works to works to solve hunger in the Inland Northwest.
Philanthropy Manager, Jean Tucker, described Second Harvest as the ‘food bank to other food banks’.
“Our role is to source and distribute about 35 million pounds of food every year out to a network of neighborhood food banks and meal programs serving people facing hunger,” said Tucker.
Second Harvest also serves the community through their mobile market program. The mobile market is a bus that travels around the region bringing the food directly to the communities, described as a food truck on wheels.
Tucker said summertime is a particularly difficult time for families to put food on the table because when kids aren’t in school, they aren’t getting free scheduled meals during the day.
“There is a really great opportunity right now during the month of June,” said Tucker. “We are partnering with Yoke’s Fresh Market again this year for the ‘What’s for Lunch’ food drive.”
During the drive, shoppers can purchase a pre-bagged grocery bag for $5 or $10, designed to help stock the shelves of local food banks.
Second Harvest uses the slogan, ‘it is the first harvest that makes the second harvest possible’. That is why Second Harvest makes it a priority to partner with local farmers.
“We are so fortunate to live in such a rich agricultural area,” said Tucker. “We partner with a lot of food processors, ranchers and farmers who want to share their bounty.”
All of Second Harvest’s resources can be accessed using their website. Their ‘Food Near Me‘ feature allows the community to find free food in the community.
