Second Harvest distributed 3.7 million pounds of food to 125 hunger-relief agencies last year. That’s 2.8 million meals to those in need in Northwest Missouri and Northeast Kansas. In addition to distributing nutritious food to its 128 agencies, Second Harvest also administers the following programs.

Harvest House - Every week, over 300 families visit Second Harvest’s on-site pantry to share in the fresh produce and perishable foods. Produce distribution was 1.2 million lbs. of food in 2006. Harvest House is open on Friday from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. Additionally, Harvest House is open on Tuesday from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. to accommodate those working, yet still in need of food assistance. This was made possible through funding from United Way St. Joseph.

Backpack Buddies -

Did you know that 54% of the children in the St. Joseph elementary schools qualify for free or reduced lunch?

Backpack Buddies provides nutritious, kid-friendly, single-serve food to children on free or reduced lunch.  Weekend food packs are placed in a backpack and handed out to children who would otherwise be at risk of going hungry over the weekend. Second Harvest hopes to serve 1,000 children in a 4-county* area through Backpack Buddies for the 2008 - 2009 school year, including 650 children in St. Joseph schools.

Serving 650 St. Joseph children in the upcoming school year will be an increase of 150 children and will include every St. Joseph elementary school.  We need your help to do this!

You can give the gift of food to a child each
weekend of the school year!

Yes, I want to sponsor a Backpack Buddies

*Regionally, Second Harvest offers Backpack Buddies to Andrew and Livingston counties in Missouri and Leavenworth and Brown counties in Kansas.  This is made possible through partnerships with the Andrew County Ministries, the Grand River Area YMCA in Chillicothe, and NEK-Cap in Leavenworth and Brown counties.

Harvest Baskets - Over 200 families a month receive an emergency food box from church group volunteers. Families are referred directly to Second Harvest to receive a three-day, emergency food basket.

Senior Food Box Program - Each month the Second Harvest distributes 400 boxes of vitamin-rich food such as cheese, whole grain cereals and canned fruits and vegetables to low-income elderly individuals in Buchanan, Andrew and DeKalb counties.

Kid's Café - This after-school program provides nutritious hot meals and heavy snacks to approximately 30 youth a day that might not otherwise receive evening meals. Bartlett Center of St. Joseph hosts Kids Café.

Growing Hope Community Garden - Complete with apple trees, 24 raised beds, irrigation, and a common area, the garden gives those in need an opportunity to grow fresh produce for their own families.

Food Rescue - 250,000 lbs of food is rescued each year thanks to our Food Rescue program. Ford Motor Company and Newman’s Own donated a refrigerated van to Second Harvest to pick up produce and prepared food from local restaurants and grocery stores. The food is then delivered directly to homeless shelters, food kitchens, abuse shelters and food pantries in St. Joseph.

Rural Delivery - Many of Second Harvest's Member Agencies (over 60 percent) are staffed entirely by volunteers who have neither the time nor capabilities to travel to St. Joseph to pick up food from our facility. This program allows children, families and seniors in rural northern Missouri to access food they might not otherwise receive.

Supplemental Nutritional Drink Program - Through referrals from the Oncology Department at Heartland Health, Second Harvest provides Boost (or a like product) to cancer patients

Barrels of Hope - Donating canned goods made easy - don’t forget Second Harvest while you are grocery shopping!  The following merchants have a Barrel of Hope in their store year-round for your convenience.  

• Price Chopper (36^th and Frederick)

• Ray’s Green Hills (3225 N. Belt)

• Roger’s Green Hills (1004 5^th Ave.)