Q&A with Regions and Second Helpings
GIPC celebrates public-private partnerships across the City of Indianapolis. One of our member organizations, Regions, has partnered with Second Helpings, a local nonprofit that specializes in hunger relief, food rescue, and culinary job training. We spoke with GIPC Member Representative and Regions Commercial Banking Leader and Market Executive, Erik Miner, and Second Helpings CEO, Linda Broadfoot, to learn more about the collaboration and how our members can get involved!
How did the partnership between Regions and Second Helpings begin?
We discovered the lifechanging work Second Helpings does thanks to a community fair our Human Resources team held to promote associate volunteerism in 2007. From there, our team members began lending support by personally contributing to an annual pasta and rice drive and by serving on committees and the board of directors. Our local leadership team has also volunteered in the kitchen. People might not immediately think of cutting vegetables for three hours as a teambuilding activity, but it definitely was. The bank has provided its support by contributing auction baskets for fundraisers like Corks & Forks and sponsoring Souper Bowls.
What have been some highlights of the collaboration?
Seeing the Second Helpings Food Rescue drivers pick up more than 1,000 pounds of pasta and rice our associates personally donated was definitely special and memorable. Another proud moment involved nominating Second Helpings for the bank’s “What a Difference a Day Makes” campaign back in 2017. Second Helpings went head-to-head in a social media voting contest with 14 other equally deserving nonprofits across the bank’s footprint and won. We were proud and excited to present them with a $5,000 check while helping to raise national awareness about their mission, programs and services.
Our market recently had the opportunity to expand that funding support thanks to our partners at the Regions Foundation, a nonprofit initiative funded primarily by Regions Bank. The Regions Foundation presented a $20,000 grant supporting Second Helpings’ revamped Culinary Job Training program in December 2022.
With the NFL Championship just around the corner, we’d love to hear more about Second Helping’s upcoming event, Souper Bowls!
Our Souper Bowls began in 2012 when Indy hosted the Super Bowl and has now become a popular, annual event for Second Helpings that brings together top local chefs for a friendly soup competition. This year’s event is Saturday, Feb. 4, 11:30am-1:30pm.
Guests get to enjoy unlimited soup tastings from the participating chefs, and then vote on their favorite. Guests can also purchase their favorite soups to-go. The whole event supports Second Helpings’ programs.
How can GIPC Members get involved with Second Helpings?
Beyond attending events and supporting Second Helpings, there are all kinds of volunteer roles in the Hunger Relief Kitchen, warehouse, office, and more. No prior experience is required, and there are opportunities for individuals, corporate groups, families, and youth groups, all available at secondhelpings.org/volunteer.
Anything else you would like to add?
Thanks for this opportunity to share a little about what Second Helpings does, and thank you for all you do for our city!