Second Harvest Food Bank

Your generosity fed families in their moment of greatest need.

When federal SNAP benefits were disrupted for several weeks this fall, thousands of local families suddenly found themselves without the food support they relied on to get by. Almost overnight, food pantries across Madison County saw a surge in first-time visitors, neighbors who had never needed help before, now anxious, overwhelmed, and unsure of where to turn. For many, this crisis struck at the very moment when budgets were already stretched thin.

In the middle of this uncertainty, the Madison County Community Foundation awarded an emergency grant of $25,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank, providing immediate relief to meet the surge in demand.

Second Harvest was able to quickly distribute critical food resources to local pantries throughout the county, keeping shelves stocked and ensuring that families did not face interruption in access to nutritious food. This rapid response made a tangible difference at a moment when help simply could not wait.

The need was especially evident on a freezing November 7th morning in Anderson, when cars stretched farther than volunteers had ever seen at Second Harvest’s tailgate distribution. Neighbors waited in the cold, hoping for a way to feed their families. Volunteers moved from car to car, jump-starting stalled engines, translating flyers, offering warm words, even holding hands as people cried. The line made it clear: the need was great, but so was the compassion.

“That morning showed us not just how great the need is, but how strong our community can be when we care for one another,” shared C.S. Hendershot, Director of Fundraising and Development. “The Community Foundation is helping make that possible.”

Using a fair-share allocation process, based on the average number of neighbors each pantry serves monthly, Second Harvest ensured that resources reached families proportionally and equitably. This grant was made possible through MCCF’s Impact Madison unrestricted fund through an emergency grant. Emergency grant funds are intentionally set aside for urgent and unforeseen needs. Your generosity strengthened the safety net of our community, making sure that every family facing hunger felt seen, supported, and cared for. In moments of crisis, Madison County shows what it truly means to show up for one another.

Every gift, large and small, contributes to the mission of Madison County Community Foundation to invest in lasting positive change to elevate and strengthen Madison County. Our vision is for this to be a community where every person has the opportunity to thrive and this drives everything that we do. Consider giving to the Impact Madison Fund to help us continue to meet emerging local needs through discretionary grantmaking. Impact Madison Grants support nonprofit programs in the areas of Arts, Culture, and History, Health and Human Services, Education, Thriving Community, and Women and Children.