Second Harvest Food Bank

Initially, it’s a bit overwhelming. Walking inside the Second Harvest Food Bank is almost like stepping inside a Costco with everything from canned goods to tooth brushes stored in bulk and in towering stacks. There’s even a refrigerated section housing produce and other perishables. But unlike those wholesale warehouse chains, all of the items in Second Harvest will be donated to people in need. According to Second Harvest’s brochure, they serve “almost 650 partner agencies such as soup kitchens, emergency shelters, group homes, food pantries, low income day cares and senior programs in a 19-county area.” Second Food Harvest has also partnered with both Promising Pages and Carolina Healthcare Systems in our “Feed the Body, Feed the Mind” campaign. Carolina Healthcare Systems set up book drop-off boxes in their 300 locations from March 1^st through March 20th. But, where did all of these books go and how is Second Harvest involved?

CHS employees sorting and cleaning books

Second Food Harvest serves the community in many capacities. One of their projects is called the Kids Café Backpack Program where Second Harvest takes their donated canned and either ready-to-eat or easy-to-prepare foods and collects them into drawstring bags to give to children on the weekends who are at risk of being hungry. In some cases, the food they receive at Second Harvest is the only nourishment at their homes for the entire weekend. When our founder, Kristina Cruise, discovered this program, she knew Promising Pages needed to be a part of it. And she was able to collaborate with Second Harvest by incorporating books into the food bags, so children can feed both their bodies and minds simultaneously. Once Kristina discovered we would need nearly thousands of books on a weekly basis to fill these backpacks, having Carolina Healthcare Systems’ help seemed like a good way to drum up the needed numbers. This has been a huge success!  (If you would like a little more background information, read my Carolina Healthcare Systems blog at http://bit.ly/HyJ6Mf).

After the book drive at the drop-off locations was over, Carolina Healthcare Systems sent their eager employees to second Harvest to help us clean, stamp, and sort books. Within a three day period, it was estimated that nearly 200 to 250 CHS employees volunteered. Getting to work and speak with the members of CHS was a pleasure. Marsha Gutkowsai, who works in the finance department of CHS, spent nearly three hours cleaning boxes after boxes of books. She read sporadically as a child, but has garnered a new appreciation for books in recent years. When asked about Promising Pages, she said, “I think the book drive is a great idea. It’s really good to hear an organization is pushing the importance of books and reading.”

Marsha Gutkowsai

Jessica Keever, the Senior Management Assistant, remembers reading constantly in her middle school years. She laughs, a little embarrassed as she recounts reading a romance series about cowboys. Jessica had many books growing up and some of her favorites were the Berenstain Bears series, Green Eggs and Ham, and when she was a little older, Nicholas Sparks’ novels. She was very energetic and excited to help, saying of the campaign, “I think it’s so important what we’re doing when so many kids are attracted to electronics. They’re missing out on having a book in their hands and looking at pictures. Giving kids just a little something like a book is a moment they’ll remember as adults. It could really impact their lives.”

When all was said and done, our “Feed the Body, Feed the Mind” campaign was able to collect 6,583 books! Meaning, we can make a big impact on the lives of many children. Promising Pages would like to give a big thank you to CHS and Second Harvest! If you would like more information about Second Harvest, visit their website at www.secondharvestmetrolina.org. If you want more information about Promising Pages, go to www.promisingpages.com, and tune in next week for the next new blog!    

Thank you CHS!

--Faith Lippard, Promising Pages Blogger