Since the food bank moved into its 14,000-square-foot warehouse in Duluth in 1999, its rescue and distribution of nationally and regionally donated food has nearly tripled. Superior/Douglas County area nonprofit agencies and residents in need now have access to more than 2.6 million pounds of rescued food annually. Although the food bank has been able to keep up with demand, leasing an additional 4,000 square feet of space off site, it has now outgrown even this facility and will embark on a $1.6 million capital campaign to increase its Duluth facility this fall.
"These are challenging economic times," said Shaye Moris, the food bank's executive director. "As home heating fuel, gas and grocery prices have increased so too has the demand for our food. In fact, our region's food shelves -- the agencies that depend on us for their food service to the needy -- are serving 30 percent more people this year compared to last. Soup kitchens are also experiencing record demand providing 17 percent more meals this year compared to last."
To date, the food bank has raised $801,599 toward its capital campaign goal but it needs the communities help to raise the remaining.
Over the last year, Superior/Douglas County communities have received 187,020 pounds of food from the food bank's rescue efforts -- that's enough for 149,616 meals.
The economic impact of the food bank's service to Superior/Douglas County is even more alarming.
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The food provided had an estimated value of $278,660 yet agencies accessed it for less than $.08 per pound, about $14,962.
Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank is the only one to serve northeastern Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin's 140 non-profit programs.
