What is the Second Servings Program?

The Second Servings Program is an effort to collect prepared and perishable food from more than 100 area restaurants, hotels, caterers, country clubs, hospitals, and privately-owned food establishments to distribute immediately to the hungry at on-site feeding agencies. Throughout the year, large donations are also collected from professional food conventions held in San Antonio. The SAFB’s Second Servings Program has grown from 42,794 pounds distributed in its first year of operation in 1992 to nearly 1,000,000 pounds in 2000. Using four bobtail trucks, food is rescued and distributed five days per week and on weekends and holidays as the need arises. The program records produce and weight in specific categories such as meat, vegetables and bread.

Where Does Second Servings Food Go?

Since 1992, Second Servings has provided several million pounds of food to 40 on-site feeding facilities like the Children’s Shelter of San Antonio, the Seton Home for Girls, First Baptist Church, the Battered Women’s Shelter, the Salvation Army, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and the Presa Community Center. By providing this food to charities free of charge, they are able to greatly reduce their food budgets. This allows charities to use their money in other high-priority areas.

Is the Food Safe?

Yes. The Second Servings Program follows strict health and safety guidelines as prescribed by the local health department and the Food Bank’s national association, America’s Second Harvest. The relationship between the Second Servings Program and the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District is close and responsive. Prior to putting prepared food in the hands of hungry people, Health District professionals inspect all SAFB agencies receiving food from Second Servings.Recurring inspections at the food bank and of SAFB’s refrigerated trucks are performed by professionals to ensure compliance with established health and sanitation standards. Second Servings food handlers are certified through the completion of a food handler’s course at St. Phillips Community College.

Second Servings Needs Your Help

The Second Servings Program is a means of enriching the lives of those in need by providing popular and nutritious foods necessary to a healthy diet. As Second Servings grows, funding is needed to operate the refrigerated trucks and pay the utility costs of the enormous freezers and coolers necessary for storing and transporting such large quantities of perishable food. Second Servings needs volunteers for food shows as well as new product donors. Your contribution toward Second Servings will ensure that a hungry individual or family eats tonight.