SECOND SERVINGS - DINNER ON US

May 4, 2020
Dear Friends,
 
I hope everyone is staying healthy and safe. Second Servings has been working long hours, doubling our normal food volume in March and April. We continue to rescue surplus food from our regular daily donors (i.e., retailers, distributors, and manufacturers), in addition to the many hotels, business cafeterias, schools, restaurants, and others whose businesses have been severely interrupted by the COVID-19 crisis. 
 
 
With COVID’s devastating impact on employment, we knew the need for food was skyrocketing beyond the 16% local food insecurity statistic that was present before the crisis. Being small and nimble, we quickly responded to the community’s growing needs by creating a mass meal relief program known as “Dinner’s On Us”. Thanks to a myriad of collaborations, we were able to get our program up and running in just two weeks! Our longstanding partner, Hess Corporation, stepped up to prepare 10,000 meals EVERY WEEK, donating the services of their Food Services Team. Second Servings is purchasing the ingredients from another longstanding supporter, Sysco, and providing the packaging. 
 
Our volunteers began distributing the frozen chef-prepared family-sized dinner boxes, each providing 8 meals, in early April. Initially, the program was directed to unemployed hospitality workers in Houston and Galveston. Thanks to the outstanding response from the public, including many of you, as well as private foundations and corporations, we have begun offering dinner boxes to ALL HOUSTONIANS in need, every Tuesday and Thursday morning, at our downtown drive-thru distribution site. We will continue as long as the need exists and funding is available. 
 
Since the COVID-19 crisis began, Second Servings has:
  • Rescued over 400,000 pounds of food (triple the usual amount), valued at more than $2.6 million
  • Distributed the initial 25,000 “Dinner’s On Us” chef-prepared meals, in our on-going program
  • Partnered with 2 Harris County Precincts and ACME Party & Tent to make large-scale truck pickups for pop-up food distributions at community centers and other sites
  • Added 20 new food donors to our network
  • Received in-kind donations from LAM Parking, ACME Party & Tent Rental Center, PREFCO Distribution, King & Spalding, BHW Capital, Mucasey & Associates Architects
Tomorrow, May 5th is the national day of generosity! Please join us in #GivingTuesdayNow by donating to make a positive impact on those affected by COVID-19. With your help, we can provide more chef-prepared "Dinner's On Us" meals to Houstonians in need, as well as, continue to deliver surplus food to our 90+ local charity recipients. A $10 donation provides a family in need of 8 meals. Any size donation is appreciated.
 
Text DOU2020 to 50155
 
I am so grateful for your assistance during this most challenging time. Stay healthy, safe, and hopeful. 
 
Gratefully yours,
Barbara Bronstein
Founder, President, and Volunteer