A year of vision, partnership, transformation, imagination, and trust
The continuing fallout from the financial crisis has engendered significant insecurity about the outlook of the world and our local economy. However, it is in difficult times when the power of vision, partnership, transformation, imagination, and trust bears fruit. This helps us better understand the challenges we face, encouraging us to unleash our imagination and capitalize on the opportunities ahead.
As I look back on this past year, Second Harvest Food Bank did just that. It was a year marked by transformation. It was a year in which vision became mission, driven by the staggering and increasing needs in our community. Since the start of the recession, we have witnessed a 48% increase in the number of people we feed. Our vision to end local hunger — to ensure that every person who needs a meal can get one — demands that we be more creative and rethink our approach to hunger relief.
At Second Harvest, innovation is woven into our DNA. We see challenges as an opportunity to roll up our sleeves and move boldly forward on our vision to end local hunger. What matters most is how we apply our ingenuity to fine-tune every aspect of the way we operate. We are working to increase access to food stamps, where California ranks a dismal second-to-last in the nation in terms of signing up eligible families. We are working to remove operational constraints that keep us from feeding more people by expanding our warehouse space and re-engineering business processes to create a world-class food distribution model. The new systems we are testing will reduce waste, connect more families with healthier food choices and stretch every donated dollar entrusted to us that much further.
Like so many local families in need, we ended this past year both grateful and determined. The challenges before us are clear. But I firmly believe that together, with the support of our generous donors, passionate volunteers, and dedicated employees, we have the ability to make the enduring vision of ending local hunger a reality.
All of us at Second Harvest value your trust and unflagging support. In turn, we will continue to face the challenges head on and operate with even greater efficiency, vision, and heart.
In partnership,
Kathy Jackson