Second Harvest Food Bank of Southern Wisconsin receives food shortage help

For the seventh year in a row, Walmart, Bimbo Bakeries USA and Tyson Foods have joined forces to help end hunger across the United States.

The three companies donated 15,000 pounds of food – equating to 12,500 meals – to Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin through a partnership with Feeding America. Millions of Americans are facing lost or reduced food benefits this year, and Feeding America foodbanks – like Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin – are struggling to keep up with demand.

Representatives from each of the organizations visited Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin today to volunteer, deliver the donation and tour the facility. As part of this partnership, Walmart, Bimbo Bakeries USA and Tyson Foods donated 5,000 pounds of bread and 10,000 pounds of protein that will be given to individuals and families over the coming weeks.

“We are so thankful to our corporate partners for this generous donation,” said Michelle Orge, President and CEO of Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin. “The end of pandemic-related food benefits and economic downturn has caused extra difficulties for families, many of whom never thought they’d be in these situations.”

Since 1986, the organization has provided nearly 241 million meals to communities across 16 counties. Through its core services of food acquisition & storage, food distribution, and FoodShare Outreach, Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin provides those facing hunger access to enough nutritious food to thrive.

Through its partnerships and individual donations, Feeding America – the largest domestic hunger relief organization in the United States – provides food to millions of Americans through a network of 200 member food banks, including Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, and 60,000 partner agencies nationwide.

Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin began working with local hunger-relief agencies in 1986. It helps end hunger in 16 southwestern Wisconsin counties through food distribution to its partner agencies, promotion of outside food assistance programs like FoodShare, and raising awareness of hunger. As southwestern Wisconsin’s largest hunger-relief charity it meets nearly one million requests for help each year. From July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023 Second Harvest, together with its partner agencies and programs, provided 19.7 million meals.  It is one of 200 members of Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity. For more information, visit www.secondharvestsw.org/.