During 2009, many of our neighbors experienced deep uncertainty about where their next meal would come from: visits to food shelves increased by 40 percent, and more than half of those needing our assistance have children in the household. But the rallying cry – “If you think this is wrong, please help us make it right” – has also brought us together in an unprecedented effort to alleviate the need.

Dish: Cuisine for Change raises dollars critical to Second Harvest Heartland’s mission of ending hunger through community partnerships. It is also a moment when corporate leaders, individual philanthropists and other innovative partners – such as the Vikings Children’s Fund and the Minneapolis Farmer’s Market – turn out to appreciate our collective accomplishments: providing an additional 200,000 meals to hungry kids during the summer recess from school…collecting more than 40 tons of fresh produce from the Market’s generous growers and patrons…recognizing and reflecting on our stories of success, as well as those of continued need.

Dish 2009 raised more than $380,000. Because every dollar we raise allows us to distribute more than $9 worth of food, we were able to distribute more than $3.4 million worth of food through this effort.

We are delighted to announce our presenting sponsors for Dish: Cuisine for Change 2010: SUPERVALU and Cub Foods.