Community Corner

Minnesota Vikings Work at Second Harvest Heartland

On Oct. 16, the Vikings and UnitedHealthcare volunteered at Golden Valley's Second Harvest Heartland location.

The Minnesota Vikings, Second Harvest Heartland and UnitedHealthcare teamed up this week for a volunteer food-packing event at Second Harvest Heartland West in Golden Valley.

On Sunday, Oct. 21, 150 volunteers from UnitedHealthcare will participate in a Vikings Food & Fund Drive from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. prior to the Vikings game at Mall of America Field, collecting nonperishable food items and donations for Second Harvest Heartland. In addition, all UnitedHealthcare offices will host food drives in the Twin Cities from Oct. 22-29.
 
“The Vikings are proud to participate in such a great cause for so many Minnesota seniors,” said Steve LaCroix, Vikings vice president of sales and marketing and chief marketing officer. “As a community leader, it is critical for this organization to join our partners in assisting Minnesotans of all ages.”
 
The activities are all part of UnitedHealthcare’s "Do Good. Live Well." program, an employee-volunteer initiative to prevent hunger, diabetes and obesity.  
 
“We’re thankful to partner with Second Harvest Heartland and the Minnesota Vikings to make a difference in the lives of older Minnesotans and to ensure they have access to fresh, nutritious food,” said Jack Larsen, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement.
 
The AARP estimates that nine million older adults nationwide face the threat of hunger. Feeding America states that 35 percent of households with seniors served by the organization and its affiliate food banks have had to choose between food and paying for heat or utilities. In Second Harvest Heartland’s 59-county service area in Minnesota and western Wisconsin, food shelf visits by people 65 and older have increased 61 percent over the past four years.

Information provided by Second Harvest Heartland. 

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