Our Visit to Second Harvest

Our Visit to Second Harvest

By Stephanie Kardos

 

At the beginning of February we got to visit Second Harvest distribution center and food bank in Spokane.  We went to their monthly meeting with all the local food banks and had a tour of the distribution center.

 

 

 

 

 

 

When we arrived we had a meeting with Sherman Reese and learned about “Feeding Washington”. Feeding Washington was created by a collaboration from Food Lifeline and Second Harvest to increase the amount of free food available to more than 500 food banks, meal centers and other hunger-relief programs that are feeding 880,000 hungry people each year throughout the state.  

Sherman used to be a farmer and now he works with farmers to get fresh food delivered to the Second Harvest Distribution center and out to food banks and meal programs.

 

 

 

 

 After talking with Sherman, we attended the 2^nd Harvest February meeting with all the local food banks. At the meeting there were guest speakers from the St Joseph Family Center and Serve Spokane. Then we took a tour of the Second Harvest distribution center.

 

 

 

 

 

Owen Esperas, the Second Harvest Director of Warehouse Operation Manager, eagerly showed us around the warehouse and gave us background on Second Harvest.  Second Harvest has been leading the hunger relief network in the region since 1971. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They distribute 2 million pounds of free food each month to help people in need in 26 counties throughout Eastern Washington and North Idaho.  The facilities are modern, clean and very organized. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Owen was proud to show us the flags that represent the Food Safety awards they won for the last 3 years.













Owen also showed us the volunteer area where there is a lounge and café area as well as a conveyer belt and sorting room, so the volunteers can sort out and repackage food.











He told us a cute story about some of their senior volunteers and how competitive they can get while sorting produce. Second Harvest has more than 2,500 volunteers assist with ongoing food sorting, bulk food repackaging, general office needs, food drives and other special events held throughout the year.  For more information on Second Harvest in Spokane please visit there website:
www.2-harvest.org