We distribute food to our neighbors in need through a network of more than 200 non-profit member agencies across our six-county service area of Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, Pike and Wayne counties. Member agencies include emergency food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, child care and senior centers, and drug and alcohol programs.
Last year, we distributed 9 million pounds of food to our member agencies, who collectively serve 60,000 people each month. More than half of the people we serve are children or senior citizens.
We provide weekly packages of food to 800 low-income children through our Backpack Buddies Program, to help ensure they have healthy meals over the weekend between Friday’s school lunch and Monday’s school breakfast. Last year we distributed 36,000 backpacks.
We distribute boxes of food to 2,475 low-income seniors each month through our SUNShine Box Program (a federally-funded commodity supplemental food program). Last year we distributed 29,475 boxes.
Education is essential to our mission. We offer the Cooking Matters Program, a six-week cooking and nutrition education program aimed at equipping low-income families to shop for and prepare healthy meals on a budget. This program is offered in partnership with Share Our Strength.
About half of all food donations come from food industry donors – this is perfectly wholesome food that would otherwise go to waste. We also receive U.S. Department of Agriculture commodities and a yearly grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to purchase nutritious food. Donations from individuals are always welcome.
Monetary donations create the greatest impact. For every $1 donated to Second Harvest, we are able to distribute eight pounds of food which is equivalent to six meals.
We couldn’t do what we do without the help of our dedicated volunteers. Annually, more than 1,100 people volunteer at Second Harvest, dedicating over 8,800 volunteer hours.
Second Harvest is a program of the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley (CACLV) and a member of Feeding America, the nation’s Food Bank network and largest hunger relief organization.