Fighting Hunger

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More Than a Meal: Partnering with Second Helpings to Nourish People, Planet and Communities

Posted on by Joe Ball


At The Heritage Group, sustainability is about more than protecting the environment—it’s about creating long-term value for people, planet and the communities we call home. That belief drives our partnership with Second Helpings, an Indianapolis-based nonprofit transforming rescued food into nourishment for neighbors in need.

Through food rescue, culinary job training and hunger relief, Second Helpings is a powerful force for good in Central Indiana—and we’re proud to stand alongside them.

Each year, more than 3.7 million pounds of perfectly good food—once bound for landfills—is rescued and redirected into nutritious meals for those experiencing food insecurity. This partnership directly aligns with our definition of sustainability: practical, people-focused solutions that reduce waste and deliver meaningful impact.

“Our partnership with Second Helpings is a clear example of how our approach to sustainability comes to life—not just through innovation, but through service,” said Tom Doherty, EVP, Portfolio Enablement at The Heritage Group. “It’s a model for how we can build lasting impact by showing up for people and supporting the communities we serve.”

Whether it’s lending our support to events like Corks & Forks, Tonic Ball or helping to pack shelves and spread awareness during the Gr8 Pasta Push, our relationship with Second Helpings is grounded in shared values. We’re committed to enacting sustainable practices while ensuring our neighbors have access to the meals they need to thrive.

“Second Helpings represents the kind of impact we strive for across The Heritage Group—where sustainability isn’t just environmental, but human,” said Tom. “It’s about using our resources wisely, lifting up our neighbors and building prosperous communities that can thrive long term.”

Behind the scenes, the heart of this partnership is our people. THG employees regularly volunteer in the Second Helpings kitchen—chopping vegetables, prepping ingredients and packaging meals for distribution across the city. It’s hands-on work that brings our values to life.

“Whether I’m at Tonic Ball enjoying the music or in the Second Helpings kitchen seeing the meals being prepared, I’m reminded that sustainability is about leaving our people, planet and communities better than we found them,” said Tom. “This partnership reflects the best of who we are at The Heritage Group.”

From departmental teams to individuals, this is part of a broader commitment we call United for Service—a campaign that empowers our employees to give back in ways that matter most to them and their communities.

Every meal prepared, every hour volunteered, every pound of food rescued tells a story of connection and care. With Second Helpings, we’re building a more sustainable and compassionate future—one meal at a time.

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A Week of Service, A Year of Impact

Posted on by Joe Ball

For almost a century, we’ve been dedicated to building stronger communities by tackling some of the most pressing needs. One way we do this is through our annual United for Service initiative, where we come together to fight hunger and make a meaningful difference for families across the country and beyond.

Hunger is an issue that affects every community, including here in the U.S., where about 34 to 37 million people—including 11 million children—face food insecurity. Food insecurity means not having consistent access to enough affordable, nutritious food. It might look like skipping meals, eating less, or relying on cheaper, less nutritious options. As Nick Reich, Executive Director of Pack Away Hunger, explained, “Food insecurity and hunger have a disproportionate impact on women and children. Through our partnership with The Heritage Group, we are able to help hungry residents of Central Indiana, especially during the holiday season.”

The success of United for Service wouldn’t be possible without our amazing partners who share our commitment to this cause. Pack Away Hunger, for example, relies on partnerships to pack and distribute nearly 1.5 million meals each year. “During their campaign, The Heritage Group packed just over 20,000 meals to support families in Central Indiana,” said Nick. “We literally couldn’t do the work, or have the impact, that we do without partners like them.”

This year’s campaign, which coincided with our 94th anniversary, was our biggest yet. Across 17 states, one Canadian province, and with more than 80 community organizations,1,119 Heritage Group volunteers worked together to make a real difference. Altogether, we contributed 1,845 hours of service, saving nonprofit organizations the equivalent of 230 days of payroll costs.

Over the past three years, our team has donated 4,456 hours to this initiative, resulting in thousands of meals packed, served and delivered to families in need. But the impact goes beyond the numbers. Volunteering brings our team closer together, offering employees the chance to collaborate with colleagues in new ways and strengthening connections across our businesses. It’s not just about giving back—it’s about growing together as a team while making a tangible difference in the places we live and work.

Heritage volunteers also play an essential role in the coordination of hunger relief, from preparing meals to delivering them. As Linda Broadfoot, CEO of Second Helpings, shared, “When companies like The Heritage Group bring volunteers to serve at Second Helpings, it helps us not only get food prepped and out the door but also builds the framework for future collaboration.”

United for Service is more than a hunger relief program—it’s a powerful example of what we can achieve when we come together. Through teamwork, community partnerships and a shared purpose, we’re helping ensure every family has access to nutritious food. As Amanda Borden, Vice President of Development at Eastern Illinois Food Bank, said, “We know the solution to alleviating hunger lies in the support of our community. Partnerships with companies like The Heritage Group make our mission possible.”

From the Midwest to the Gulf Coast, our Heritage family came together united in our fight against hunger. As we continue to look for opportunities to strengthen communities, we strive to shape a future where no one goes hungry and everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

What some of our hunger relief partners are saying:

 

Just some of the numbers of our United for Service efforts:

  • 20,000 Meals Packed: This year, volunteers joined Pack Away Hunger in Indianapolis helped prepare over 20,000 meals for families in Central Indiana. Midwest Food Bank, one of our distribution partners, picked up over 5,600 meals, ensuring that they reached food pantries and families in need by early January.
  • 207 Backpacks Filled: At Cultivate Food Rescue in South Bend, Milestone Contractors employees prepared 1,247 frozen meals. These were packed into 207 backpacks, ensuring children had reliable and nutritious food for their weekends.
  • 54 Kids Served: US Aggregates created take-home snack bags for 54 children who otherwise would have lacked access to healthy food during their winter break.
  • 1 million Meals Distributed: Our partnership with the Eastern Illinois Foodbank contributed to their ability to distribute over 11 million meals last year, including fresh produce for families across 18 counties.
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Recap: 2023 United for Service

Posted on by Joe Ball

In a powerful demonstration of community strength, compassion and coordination, The Heritage Group’s 2023 United for Service — a week-long service campaign — recently unfolded across 11 states, bringing together 682 volunteers on a mission to combat food scarcity and hunger.

Now in its second year as a company-wide initiative through The Heritage Group, United for Service originated with the Fehsenfeld family as a way to gather and bond together while giving back to the communities where we live and work. This year’s effort resulted in an impressive 1,400 service hours dedicated to making a real difference in the lives of those facing the harsh realities of hunger.

The heart of our United for Service campaign lies in the spirit of collaboration. Local service organizations, impassioned volunteers, and essential community partners joined forces to address one of the most pressing issues affecting countless lives — the lack of access to adequate, quality food. The scale of this initiative reflects the shared commitment to creating positive change.

The need for food is key to our existence, and the communal sharing of meals is a part of our culture. Families bond over dinner; co-workers chat over lunch. But for some, putting food on the table is a struggle. According to the USDA, more than 34 million people, including 9 million children, in the United States are food insecure. In fact, every community in the United States is home to families who face hunger. But rural communities — where many struggle with limited job opportunities and lack of transportation options to reach grocery stores or food pantries — are especially hard hit by hunger.

The backbone of any successful service campaign is the dedication of its volunteers. Our Heritage volunteers united with a common goal: to make a meaningful impact in their respective communities. With 682 individuals stepping up, each hour contributed becomes a building block in the fight against hunger. Together with business leaders and colleagues, members of our Heritage family served meals at soup kitchens, stocked shelves at food pantries and prepared meals for distribution to community members in need. Spanning across 11 states, our week of service was a testament to the widespread need for assistance and the urgency to address food scarcity on a broader scale. This year’s United for Service week witnessed an impressive tally of 1,400 service hours, which underscores the dedication and commitment to service within our employees.

Crucial to the success of this campaign were the invaluable partnerships forged with local organizations. From food banks and shelters, the collaborative network created a ripple effect, amplifying the campaign’s reach and effectiveness. Together, these partners played a pivotal role in ensuring that resources were utilized efficiently and that the impact extended beyond the week of service.

Beyond the numbers, the true measure of success lies in the lives touched and the communities strengthened. By addressing immediate needs and fostering sustainable solutions, this campaign aimed not only to provide relief but also to create a foundation for lasting change. In the face of food scarcity, our United for Service week stands as a beacon of hope and a testament to the transformative power of collective action. Our combined efforts remind us that, together, we can build stronger, more resilient communities, and that positive change is possible when we are united around a shared vision and purpose.

To everyone in our #HeritageFamily who donated food, sorted produce, chopped vegetables, served lunches and assembled snack packs: Thank you!