100,000 meals for hungry Silicon Valley families

Investment Report ~ April 2014

From the Desk of Kathy Jackson, CEO

Dear Treasured Supporter,  

It is time again to report back from the front lines. It’s only because of your generosity, that we are able to keep our phone lines open and our delivery trucks stocked with food and headed to our neighbors who need it most.

I have enclosed two articles for you. 

•          The first article sheds light on the state of hunger in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties.

•          The second article highlights how the California drought is expected to drive up food prices. The drought not only will make it harder for struggling families to afford food they need, it could adversely affect Second Harvest Food Bank’s access to both purchased and donated foods that we depend on to feed hungry families.

This year we are on target to provide over 60 million pounds of food (more than 50 million meals) to our hungry neighbors – and nearly 80% of that food is donated. We continue to diversify and expand our efforts to “rescue” food that would otherwise be wasted. Over the past year we significantly stepped up our efforts to rescue food from local grocery stores.

Below are some highlights of our grocery store food rescue program:

•          Although retail food donation programs can pose a variety of logistical hurdles, in 2013 we started to “crack the code.” As a result we rescued 2.1 million pounds of high quality food from 65 stores in our two-county region – enough food to fill 21,000 shopping carts stretching 12 miles end to end.

•          Grocery store donations are particularly valuable because they include nutrient-rich, desirable foods such as ground beef, pork chops, chicken, eggs and yogurt, which are expensive for us to purchase.

•          Participating stores include Target, Save Mart, Walmart, Sprouts and Foods Co in addition to a handful of other local retailers.

•          Over the next several years our goal is to increase the amount of food we receive from grocery stores by growing per-store “yield” and adding 70 new stores for a total of 135 contributing stores.

In addition to looking back, I would also like to give you a preview of coming attractions. Here is what is on the horizon:

•          This spring we are redoubling our efforts to build awareness and support for our most vulnerable population – the 100,000 local kids who turn to us for food every single month.

•          Stand Up for Kids is a new campaign that began in March and will run through May. Campaign funds will allow us to feed kids today, acquire more food for hungry children, strengthen the local safety net and explore innovative programs that have the potential to feed more kids and families than ever before.

•          The Stand Up for Kids campaign is being co-chaired by Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and Founder of LeanIn.Org and John Donahoe, President and CEO of eBay Inc.

Although this report isn’t exhaustive, my hope is that it provides you with a glimpse into the work you have so generously invested in. Please rest assured that we are carefully stewarding your contributions and are always happy to speak with you about the work we are doing on the ground to ensure that anyone who needs a meal can get one.

In partnership,

Kathy Jackson

Chief Executive Officer

Links:

• Stand Up For Kids Campaign Page

• San Jose Mercury News: A Food Drought (PDF)
  
• San Jose Mercury News: Hunger Index (PDF)