For Kristal, providing for her four growing boys is her highest priority. As a full-time Direct Support Professional, she often picks up extra shifts to help cover household expenses. But like for many Northland families, rising food costs can make it difficult to keep up with bills while providing nutritious meals. That’s why your support of our BackPack Program makes such a meaningful difference.

“Your BackPack Program helps balance the cost of food and paying rent,” Kristal shares. “I’m now able to pay my bills like lights, water, and insurance instead of constantly worrying about putting food on the table for my boys.”

Kristal knows firsthand how quickly life can change. During the pandemic, she needed to leave her job to care for her children, and her family lost their home. As they worked to rebuild stability, access to food became an ongoing concern. 

“When we were homeless, there were times when I didn’t have food available when my boys needed it,”she shares.

Today, because of your generosity, her children have food they can count on after school and on weekends. Your support helps parents like Kristal focus on building a brighter future while knowing their children have the nourishment they need to learn, grow, and thrive.

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In -20° weather with snow swirling outside, Hannah waits in her warm car to pick up her monthly supply of supplemental food at our Food Shelf Program in Duluth. Born and raised in Minnesota, this weather is nothing new to her. As she waits, Hannah thinks about how active her kids are and how important it is to her that she is able to provide them with healthy meals. 

“Feeding myself and my three kids with what I pick up at the Second Harvest Northland Food Shelf definitely fills a gap, because we pretty much live paycheck to paycheck,” Hannah shares. 

Ensuring our food shelf is open and available regardless of the weather is important to us, however, even for those like Hannah, who have grown up in Minnesota, sometimes the weather is unbearably cold.

In phase two of our Nourish the Northland Capital Campaign, we are excited to increase equitable and dignified food access through a grocery store style in-person shopping experience. Neighbors like Hannah will be able to pick specific items they need for a recipe and interact with volunteers while both stay warm and dry, no matter the season.