Second Harvest Northland consolidates warehousing, looking to invest in Food Shelf in Grand Rapids

Second Harvest Northland is exploring investment in its Grand Rapids Food Shelf Program following an operational change at the end of June.

The non-profit has consolidated their warehousing operations to their new Duluth facility.

As part of their consolidation, Second Harvest will retain half of its Grand Rapids staff and will offer available Duluth positions to its operations team. Those not staying received severance.

The Grand Rapids Food Shelf Program, the second largest Food Shelf in Second Harvest’s 15-county NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin region, could offer drive-through and order-ahead service in addition to its current shopping model if a survey of the neighbors they support reveals interest.

“Our investment in our Grand Rapids home community has been on our radar since last year’s merger,” said Shaye Moris, President/CEO, Second Harvest Northland.  “We have increased our food distribution in Itasca County by 16%, or more than 180,000 additional meals, in our first year.”

Moris stated that Second Harvest’s plan is to survey neighbors supported by their Grand Rapids Food Shelf Program as early as this summer so they can understand their preferred service and experience.

“We want to be responsive to our community and hear from the very people our program impacts,” she said. 

Prior to its merger in 2022, Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank, had acquired a Duluth warehouse which was double the size of both its former and Grand Rapids facilities and located near major transportation corridors including I-35. 

At the same time a statewide transportation and logistics study revealed excess warehouse space in northern Minnesota and the recommendation was made to consolidate the two Food Bank operations to one facility. 

This consolidation to the Duluth facility occurred in June allowing Second Harvest to increase the amount and variety of food available to the 15-county region of agency and community partners (food shelves, on-site meal programs, and tribal organizations) it supports as part of its primary work as the region’s only Food Bank.

“Our mission remains unchanged – to ‘end hunger in NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin’,” Moris said.  “We remain committed to our Grand Rapids home community – that’s a promise we made during our merger.” 

Moris said that increased need, funding uncertainty and recent regulatory changes have made it an important time to strengthen Second Harvest Northland to ensure its long-term viability and sustainability.