Food access for all

Innovation and collaboration

Second Harvest provides consistent access to fresh, healthy food to families, children and seniors facing hunger across eastern Washington and northern Idaho. Through its various programs and partnerships, Second Harvest provides food to more than 280 food pantries and meal sites that feed about 55,000 people each week.

The organization believes that everyone has the right to a healthy life, and this includes regular access to nutritious food. Since there is no single solution to alleviating hunger, the nonprofit uses a variety of innovative strategies and community partnerships to get food to those who need it.

These methods include delivering healthy food to kids at schools, bringing food directly to high-need communities through mobile markets, providing nutrition education and cooking classes and much more. Second Harvest also partners with other nonprofits, local farmers and food producers to help fill service gaps that prevent some people from accessing the food they need.

“Second Harvest helps kids reach their potential, and we’re proud to support their programs.” – Sunny Reisenauer, Marketing Director, All Lines Insurance

Nourishment to help kids thrive

All Lines Insurance agent, Kristi McKethen, delivers food to the Bite2Go program at a local school.

One out of six children across eastern Washington and northern Idaho regularly experience hunger or food insecurity. To help ease this hardship, the 22 employees of All Lines Insurance work with Second Harvest to get food to kids who need it most.

Since 2015, the agency has donated time and money to the nonprofit’s Bite2Go program, which delivers bags of food for kids to take home on Fridays, so they have nourishment over the weekend. Each month during the school year, an agency volunteer collects the food from Second Harvest and delivers it to a school where it’s shared anonymously with students. This program helps feed nearly 7,200 elementary, middle and high school students each week.

All Lines Insurance also looks for ways to expand Second Harvest’s reach so it can help even more people. When a new sponsor or donor is needed for a school’s Bite2Go program, the agency approaches local businesses to invite them to help. This charitable networking creates a ripple effect of good will that’s felt throughout the community.

In addition, the agency gives $10 per referral to the nonprofit. This averages out to about $500 a month, which goes directly to the Bite2Go program.

“It’s so difficult for a child to focus and learn at school if they’re hungry,” said Sunny Reisenauer, the marketing director at All Lines Insurance. “That’s why Second Harvest’s work is so important. It helps kids reach their potential, and we’re proud to support their programs.”

Client Account Manager Tara O’Leary makes a delivery from All Lines Insurance to Second Harvest.

Collaboration is key

Relationships are vital to Second Harvest’s work, and the organization is skilled at brining groups together to reach a common goal. “Ensuring that everyone gets the food they need, regardless of their background or circumstances, requires teamwork,” said Steve Durham, vice president of philanthropy at Second Harvest. “We rely on partners like All Lines Insurance to help us distribute food efficiently so we can reach as many people as possible.”

 “Ensuring that everyone gets the food they need, regardless of their background or circumstances, requires teamwork.” – Steve Durham, VP of Philanthropy, Second Harvest

Fighting hunger and providing hope

A $10,000 donation from Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance would help Second Harvest expand its Bite2Go program to other schools in the region, so they can help even more kids. Help All Lines Insurance win another $5,000 for Second Harvest by cheering them on with a vote!

If your agency volunteers with a 501(c)3 nonprofit, learn how you can win a Make More Happen Award here.