Each year, the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation (GRACF) annual grant cycle becomes a testament to the power of community and collaboration. In 2024, GRACF awarded over $181,000 in 44 grants to nonprofit organizations and initiatives dedicated to serving the Greater Itasca Area. These grants support important projects that make a difference in our local communities. A significant portion of the grants awarded through the GRACF annual grant cycle comes from donor-advised funds managed by the Community Foundation. Those donors play an active and important role in supporting the Greater Itasca Area.
Second Harvest Northland was a recipient of a GRACF annual grant cycle grant. Second Harvest is the region’s only food bank and its main role is to access and purchase food from regional and national manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and growers to alleviate hunger insecurity. They then distribute that food to their 113 agency and community partners (food shelves, on-site meal programs, and tribal organizations). In addition, they operate five of their own direct service programs: their Nutrition for Seniors Program, two food shelves in the Grand Rapids and Duluth area, their Mobile Food Pantry Program, and their Backpack and School pantry program.
A merger between the Duluth and Grand Rapids food banks took effect on January 1, 2024, and since that point, Second Harvest Northland has increased their distribution of food/meals to partners and neighbors in their 15-county region by 4%. However, the impact in Itasca County was even more profound where they increased their distribution of food/meals to partners and neighbors by 16% or 173,000 additional meals.
Second Harvest Northland strategically placed their Mobile Food Pantry Programs in communities with a high level of need and low resources and began operating year-round throughout the most difficult winter months for their neighbors who are already challenged by home heating and cold and flu season. They changed their Grand Rapids Food Shelf Program days and hours to ensure less days between food access (e.g. open Fridays) and also allow neighbors to utilize their program “as often as needed.” They also removed fees to access product for their west partners saving them over $100,000 in expense.
Mindy Nuhring, Executive Director of GRACF, explains, “The grant to Second Harvest Northland is an example of a program that is very important to the health and wellness of our area communities and the Community Foundation is proud to be a partner with other donors in awarding grants such as this that make the Greater Itasca Area a better place to live.”
The Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation has been connecting donors’ charitable intentions to community needs for over 30 years. For more information, visit their website at www.gracf.org or schedule a visit by calling (218) 999-9100.
PHOTO: Trisha Zimmerman, Second Harvest Northland and Mindy Nuhring, GRACF
