About Second Harvest

The Second Harvest Food Bank distributes donated food to more than 550 feeding partners in multiple counties throughout Central Florida. They also provide a 16-week culinary training program to set economically-challenged adults on a path to self-sustainability. Last year, the food bank distributed nearly 63 million meals! Over the past six years, the organization expanded from a 35,000 square foot warehouse to a 105,000 square foot warehouse, created its own culinary training program, launched a full-service catering company, and introduced a product line.

Experimenting with their Dipjars

Second Harvest purchased their first Dipjar two years ago and now use three Dipjars: one that’s kept at their front desk reception area, one that’s kept in their volunteer breakroom, and one that they use when they go out to third party vendors or events. The organization implements their Dipjars in a variety of ways, which allows them to track which location works best! For instance, the Dipjar that’s placed in the volunteer breakroom does better when there’s a match campaign going on. And the Dipjar that’s in the reception area may do better in the summer when there are a larger number of visitors. The third Dipjar that goes out to events may do better at certain kinds of events, like a dinner or a game night. 

With multiple Dipjars, Second Harvest has the ability to be able to see how to best use their devices. And because of how diverse their uses are, each Dipjar is being seen by a different audience whether it be visitors to Second Harvest in the reception area, volunteers in the break room, or attendees at an event. Through trial and error, Second Harvest can find the perfect location and strategy to capture as many donations as possible. 

Fundraising Strategy

According to Veronica Mucha, Event Specialist at Second Harvest, the organization has five to ten third-party events a month, and two to three large fundraising events every year which include Wine, Women and Shoes, and Taste! Central Florida. Their last event was the Amateur Rib Contest at the Ten 10 Brewing Company in Orlando where attendees got to try ribs and “dip” to vote for their favorites. Every rib vote was worth a dollar and all the donations went back to Second Harvest. 

Second Harvest’s mission is to create hope and nourish lives through a powerful hunger relief network while multiplying the generosity of a caring community. Through this mission, they hope to inspire and encourage members of their community to end hunger. We’re excited to follow Second Harvest as they continue to expand and share how DipJar continues to impact their organization and mission!

Second Harvest Food Bank is a member of Feeding America – the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. Second Harvest secures and distributes food and grocery products to approximately 550 local nonprofit feeding programs throughout Central Florida. Last year, with the help of food and financial donors, volunteers, and a caring, committed community, the food bank distributed nearly 63 million meals to partner programs such as food pantries, soup kitchens, women’s shelters, senior centers, daycare centers, and Kids Cafes. In addition, Second Harvest’s 16-week culinary program teaches foodservice-based technical, life and employability skills to economically hard-pressed adults. Second Harvest is distributing enough food to feed 58,000 people a day.