Founded locally in 1981, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina became a member of America’s Second Harvest network in 1984. The national network has nearly 200 food banks, six of which are in North Carolina. Charlotte’s Food Bank provides food to 500 non-profit agencies in fifteen counties. The Second Harvest mission is to feed people by soliciting and distributing food and other grocery products through partner agencies and to educate people in the community about the nature of and solutions to problems of hunger. Nearly 100 national companies, including Quaker Oats and Campbell's, contribute food regularly, as do local grocery stores and other North Carolina companies. Monetary gifts are used to purchase food, and food drives are held to supplement supplies. In 2004, Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina collected more than twelve million pounds of food. An average of 2000 hours of volunteer labor, monthly, is needed to sort food and perform other needed tasks. Volunteers need to be at least ten years old. Although individuals do participate, most volunteer hours are contributed by small groups with a specified monthly date to volunteer in the warehouse. Actively involved since 1990, PUMC received a Group Volunteer Partner Award in 2003. In 2002, PUMC initiated a tradition to have a special offering taken for Second Harvest Food Bank on each fifth Sunday of a month.

PUMC History