Two Northern Minnesota Food Banks Merge

DULUTH, Minn.. –The Executive Director of the Second Harvest North Central Food Bank in Grand Rapids, Sue Estee, has served as its leader for more than 20 years.  As she considered retiring, Estee began thinking about how the food bank could move forward.  She wondered if combining the Grand Rapids organization with Second Harvest Northern Lakes in Duluth would make sense.

“I knew that thinking about a merger was an important part of the succession planning,” said Estee. “You know, I had thought for years, and obviously, North Central could stand alone and do fine. But you know, couldn’t we do better if we joined up with Northern Lakes, and became a larger regional organization?” said Estee.

So, on January first that’s exactly what happened, and Second Harvest Northland was formed. The combined food banks now serve 15 counties in Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin.

Combining the two northern Minnesota Food Banks was not quite as easy as you would have thought. Yes, their goals are the same. But it took almost two years of planning and doing to make it happen.

Shaye Moris, who has led the Duluth Food Bank for 23 years, is now the President and CEO of Second Harvest Northland.

Demand for food help will only increase says Moris, as some pandemic-era federal programs end. “Definitely, there is high demand right now,” said Moris. “So, we’re looking forward to people continuing to support our work. And I think that’s the one thing I would want to say if anything, to those who have been volunteers, and donors–nothing will change,” said Moris.

Both the Grand Rapids and Duluth warehouses will continue, but leaders say the combined organization will be better able to serve its customers.

“We have the ability to increase the amount and variety of nutritional food that we’ll be able to distribute in the future,” said Moris. “We have the opportunity now to strengthen our programs and services.”