Our Stories

The mission of the Friday Food Bag Foundation is to partner with the community to provide nutritious food to children who might not eat well – or at all – on the weekends. They deliver bags of single serve, nutritious, non-perishable food each week to district schools for distribution by school personnel to children.

Data reported by Laramie County School District for the 2021-2022 school year indicated 5,389 students out of a total enrollment of 16,213, or 33.23% of students in grades K-12 qualified for free or reduced meals.

Based upon results from childhood hunger programs in existence for several years, providing nutritious weekend meals for this at-risk population will not only alleviate their immediate hunger, but improve their overall health and performance levels during the school week.

In September, employees from Interstate Power Systems’ newest branch presented a $10,000 check on behalf of Second Step Foundation to the Friday Food Bag in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Montana Food Bank Network (MFBN) is Montana’s only statewide food bank and member of Feeding America. They distribute food to 360 partners that include community food banks, pantries, schools, senior centers, and shelters to end hunger in Montana. Their hunger relief programs include BackPack, Hunters Against Hunger, Mail-a-Meal, No Kid Hungry, Retail Food Rescue, and SNAP outreach.

In September, Interstate employees presented a $10,000 check on behalf of Second Step Foundation to the Montana Food Bank Network in Missoula, Montana. For every $1 donation, MFBN is able to provide at least five meals (this year’s donation of $10,000 will cover more than 50,000 meals).

MFBN advocates for long-term policy solutions to strengthen public nutrition programs and address the root causes of hunger. MFBN partners with local and national food manufacturers, agriculturists, and other food manufacturers to secure large amounts of food through generous donations, grants, or wholesale. Then, through a team of volunteers, they break down the large-scale food into manageable family-size portions that partner agencies and other programs can easily store and distribute to Montanans experiencing food insecurity.

The Nutrition On Weekends (NOW) Program is a collaborative, community effort targeting childhood hunger. The program provides healthy, ready-to-eat nutritious foods for children during the weekend, providing a safety net for children when they are not in the classroom and able to access school meals.

Interstate employees presented a $10,000 check on behalf of Second Step Foundation on September 29 to Ashley Winch for the Marshfield United Way NOW Program. In addition to the donation, I-State Truck Centers and Interstate Assembly Systems employees volunteer to pack lunches in the Training Center throughout the year.

NOW was created in response to data collected in 2012 from Marshfield students as part of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. In this survey, 20% of students indicated they had gone to bed hungry at least once in the past thirty days because there was not enough food in the home.

The program is currently serving 483 children in eight school districts plus the Head Start program. They engage over 700 volunteers throughout the year to help make the program happen and partner with approximately 30 local businesses and organizations that help prepare the weekly food packs throughout the year.

The Rock River Valley Pantry’s mission is to fight hunger in the community by providing nutritious food to those in urgent need. Founded in 1976, they are the largest community-based food pantry in Northern Illinois, distributing needed food from two locations five days a week that amounts to more than a million pounds of food each year.

On October 2, Interstate employees delivered a check for $10,000 from Second Step Foundation to Tabatha Endres-Cruz of the Rock River Valley Pantry in Rockford, Illinois.

The Rock River Valley Pantry provides enough food to supply a balanced diet for four days for each member of the receiving households. They rely on a community of donors and every dollar truly makes a difference in their ability to fight hunger.

No one should go hungry. River Bend Food Bank feeds people experiencing hunger by rescuing, safely storing and distributing nutritious food through more than 400 hunger-relief partners in 23 counties in eastern Iowa and western Illinois.

Interstate employees presented a $10,000 check on behalf of Second Step Foundation on October 2 to employees at the River Bend Foodbank in Davenport, Iowa.

River Bend Food Bank is a proud member of the Feeding America network – a nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated to providing support and resources to 200 food banks across the United States.

They operate three warehouse facilities to distribute food to hunger relief partner organizations across our service area and serve as the food rescue and distribution hub for food pantries and hunger-relief partners in 23 counties.

On October 3, Interstate delivered a check for $10,000 from Second Step Foundation to employees at Hope Center in Waukesha, in Butler, Wisconsin.

Hope Center is a non-profit organization that has been serving the basic needs of financial assistance, food and clothing in Waukesha County. More than 20,000 women, men and children currently live in or near poverty in Waukesha County. For 44 years, Hope Center has strived to minimize the poverty related risk factors that contribute to homelessness by providing, at no cost to County residents, food, clothing and simple living items.

Their “Outreach Meals” program began in 1991 to address the need of hunger in the community. Guests include the homeless, those living in rooming houses or shelters, families trying to stretch their budget and elderly persons on a fixed income, many of whom are physically and/or mentally impaired.

In the first eight months of 2023, the Hope Center has helped combat hunger by providing 6,418 breakfasts, 5,870 lunches and 6,740 dinners.

Interstate Assembly Systems team members in New Century, Kansas met with representatives of The Hope Market on October 11 to deliver a $10,000 check on behalf of The Second Step Foundation.

The Hope Market Local Food Pantry is a non-profit organization that provides free, nutritious food to people in need in the Kansas City community. They are committed to feeding their neighbors with dignity and respect, and to building a stronger, more equitable community where everyone has access to the food they need to thrive.

Last year alone, The Hope Market served 6,958 families and 25,869 individuals. They estimate that there are 364,090 people in the area they serve who are food insecure, meaning they may have food today, but they don’t know if there will be food tomorrow.

Interstate Power Systems team members in Carol Stream, Illinois met with Jenny Ackerman of the Northern Illinois Food Bank on October 8 to deliver a $10,000 check.

Northern Illinois Food Bank is focused on delivering food and healthy eating services to the Northern Illinois community. As part of the national Feeding America network, they serve neighbors in 13 counties.

Of the Food Bank’s resources, a full 97% of them go to programs that feed neighbors in need. Every $1 donated helps provide $8 worth of groceries. They provide 250,000 meals a day and each week nearly 1,000 volunteers help evaluate, repack and distribute food.

On October 8, Steve Sauter, Petar Miskov, and Erin Caves presented a $10,000 Second Step Foundation donation to Rochelle at Friends with Food in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Rochelle gave them a tour of their operations and expressed gratitude for the donation. She talked about the work the organization has done to remove barriers that many non-profits struggle with in providing food for those in need.

Friends with Food is a vital community organization located in Milwaukee dedicated to alleviating hunger and providing support to individuals and families in need. Their mission is simple but powerful: to ensure that no one in the community goes hungry. Friends with Food operates as a food bank, sourcing donations from local businesses, individuals and organizations to distribute food to those facing food insecurity.

On October 8, the team from the Lincoln, Nebraska IPS branch met with Jason Pauling, Corporate Partnerships Director for the Food Bank of Lincoln to deliver a $10,000 donation from Second Step Foundation. The IPS team was greeted by a digital sign in front of the charity’s office thanking the Second Step Foundation for their continued donations and support.

Since its founding in 1982, the Food Bank of Lincoln has been focused on the mission of alleviating hunger in Southeast Nebraska. They serve 16 counties in Southeast Nebraska covering roughly 9,200 square miles. It’s estimated that 64,510 people in the region are food insecure, including 20,320 children under the age of 18. This means one in seven neighbors — and one in five children — may not have reliable and consistent access to enough food to live active, healthy lives.

On October 11, the IAS team in Surprise, Arizona delivered a $10,000 check on behalf of the Second Step Foundation to St. Mary’s Food Bank.

St. Mary’s Food Bank provides nutritious food to families, children and seniors struggling to feed themselves and their families. Each year, they distribute food to millions of neighbors throughout Arizona. Their efficient operations and purchasing power allow us to turn $1 donated into five meals.

They provide food, at No COST, to hundreds of partner agencies, who, in turn, give food to people in need. Their agency partners are food pantries, homeless shelters, meal centers, domestic violence shelters, after-school programs for at-risk children, low-income senior living centers, etc.

On October 10, Dale Priebe, Cole Dennis, Andy Tofsrud and Adam Van Doorne had the pleasure of presenting donations from Second Step Foundation from Bismarck IPS, IBS and ITC along with Williston IPS to the Great Plains Food Bank in Bismarck.

“Last year, the team at Great Plains Food Bank was able to provide 11.2 million meals to people in need in North Dakota,” said Adam Van Doorne, Bismarck IPS Branch Manager. “They were extremely appreciative of this year’s generous gift from our foundation. They said the donation will be put to use in their general operations fund to continue to serve our great state.”

The only food bank in the state of North Dakota, the Great Plains Food Bank recovers food that otherwise would go to waste from a range of food industry partners and, through its programs and services, distributes it to those in need throughout North Dakota and Clay County, MN. Working with volunteers, food and financial donors, community champions and advocates, we are committed to serving the people in our region each day.

For many residents of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, DICSA Nutrition Services provides more than food — it delivers care, connection and dignity. Through Meals on Wheels, congregate dining and supplemental nutrition programs, DICSA reaches seniors and families who depend on these services for daily nourishment and companionship.

Iron Mountain Interstate Power Systems and Interstate Energy Systems team members recently presented a donation on behalf of the Second Step Foundation to DICSA Nutrition Services in Iron Mountain, Michigan. The contribution reinforces the foundation’s mission to strengthen the communities where its employees live and work.

DICSA leaders shared that this support helps sustain the meals and meaningful connections that keep their neighbors healthy, independent and cared for all year long.

The Great Falls Community Food Bank serves as a bridge between generosity and need, distributing food to partner agencies across Cascade County and ensuring that no one goes without a meal. By collaborating with schools, shelters and local organizations, the food bank helps thousands of children, seniors and families find stability through nourishment.

Great Falls I-State Truck Centers team members recently presented a donation on behalf of the Second Step Foundation to the Great Falls Community Food Bank in Great Falls, Montana. The gift reflects the foundation’s ongoing commitment to supporting organizations that make a direct difference in their communities.

The food bank shared that this contribution will help deliver more meals and comfort to families across the county — proof that when a community comes together, generosity truly multiplies.

Each year, North Country Food Bank helps fill dinner tables and ease worries across northwestern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota. Through its network of partner agencies, the organization provides millions of pounds of nutritious food to children, seniors and families who might otherwise go without. Every meal shared helps replace uncertainty with comfort and care.

Grand Forks Interstate Power Systems and Interstate Energy Systems team members recently presented a donation on behalf of the Second Step Foundation to the North Country Food Bank in Grand Forks, Minnesota. The contribution reflects the foundation’s ongoing commitment to strengthening communities and fighting hunger.

Leaders at North Country Food Bank shared that this gift amplifies their reach, helping deliver nourishment and hope to families across miles of rural towns and close-knit neighborhoods.

For more than 50 years, Needs Inc. has been a cornerstone of compassion in Laramie County, providing food, clothing, and household essentials to thousands of neighbors every year. Beyond meeting basic needs, the organization offers comfort and connection to those navigating difficult times — reminding each person who walks through its doors that they are not alone.

Interstate Power Systems employees recently visited the Needs Inc. Food Pantry in Cheyenne, Wyoming, to continue their tradition of fall giving. The donation reflects the Second Step Foundation’s ongoing commitment to supporting local organizations that care deeply for their communities.

This contribution ensures that families across Cheyenne can continue to access food, warmth and the reassurance that their community stands beside them in times of need.

For many families in Sacramento County, the Sacramento Food Bank is a source of stability, compassion and community. From providing emergency food and clothing to offering education and career support, the organization restores hope and helps families move forward with confidence. Nearly 300,000 people rely on its services each month, and its impact is felt across every neighborhood.

Team members from West Sacramento Interstate Assembly Systems recently presented a donation on behalf of the Second Step Foundation to Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. The contribution underscores the foundation’s continued commitment to supporting organizations that uplift and empower families in need.
Leaders at Sacramento Food Bank shared that this donation strengthens their ability to meet immediate needs while helping families rebuild stability, opportunity and a renewed sense of hope.

Second Harvest Foodbank serves 16 counties in southern Wisconsin, ensuring families have access to healthy, nourishing meals every day. For parents trying to make ends meet and children who depend on school lunches, the food bank is a vital lifeline. With support from partners and donors, Second Harvest distributes millions of meals each year — nourishing communities and building a stronger, healthier region.

Madison I-State Truck Centers team members recently gathered at Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin to present a donation of $10,000 from the Second Step Foundation. Sales Manager John Kotek and Parts Manager Rocky Shores delivered the check on behalf of the foundation, continuing its tradition of giving back to local communities.

This generosity helps turn every dollar into healthy food and hope, ensuring that more families across southern Wisconsin can share nutritious meals and brighter days ahead.