Taking action against hunger in our hometown

We believe everyone should have access to a nourishing meal, and together with our nonprofit partners we’re working to make that a reality.

For many, having a warm meal is not always a given. Second Harvest Heartland, one of the nation’s largest food banks that serves Minnesota and western Wisconsin, recorded 6.5 million visits to its food program partners last year — underpinning the need in our community.

We believe every individual, family and community should be food secure and free from hunger. Together, with our nonprofit partners, we’re at work every day to ensure those in need have reliable and equitable access to food. In Minnesota, one of our longest-standing partners, Second Harvest Heartland, is helping to advance this mission.

General Mills’ support of Second Harvest Heartland dates back to 1984 when the company donated 100,000 pounds of food to the St. Paul Food Bank. The St. Paul Food Bank and the Minneapolis Food Bank later merged in 2001 to become Second Harvest Heartland as it is today. Nearly 40 years later, General Mills continues to be one of the organization’s top corporate giving partners.

As part of our equitable food access work with Second Harvest Heartland, we’re strengthening the local food system and bringing more produce to neighbors in need. Through our philanthropic funding, Second Harvest Heartland is procuring fresh, locally grown produce from The Good Acre, a nonprofit food hub, and distributing it through their network. Not only do families receive good food, but the farms, many of which are minority-owned, also benefit. Since the partnership launched in 2021, more than 50 growers have participated, and more than 1 million pounds of local produce has been distributed to the community.

Millions of Minnesotans still seek food assistance across the state. Earlier this year, Second Harvest Heartland announced its latest goal — reducing hunger in Minnesota by 50 percent by 2030 — bringing together communities, policymakers, and business leaders to reduce hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow.

As part of our ongoing support of Second Harvest Heartland, General Mills provided an incremental $1 million donation this year to advance this goal.

“Cutting hunger in half is not something we can do on our own, and we’re grateful for the support of our partners, like General Mills, for stepping up when we need it most,” said Allison O’Toole, CEO, Second Harvest Heartland. “We are making great progress in expanding access to emergency food in our community, but we still have a lot of work to do. We are thankful for General Mills’ support because we can accomplish so much more when we work together.”

“We believe everyone should have access to a nourishing meal,” said Mary Jane Melendez, chief sustainability and global impact officer, General Mills. “We’re proud to support Second Harvest Heartland to ensure our neighbors across the state are not only fed today but cared for into the future.”

To learn more about Second Harvest Heartland and how you can support their efforts to make hunger history, visit: www.2harvest.org