Edina Realty Foundation Donates $60,000 to Second Harvest Heartland to Fight Local Hunger During the Coronavirus Pandemic

EDINA, MN, April 20, 2020 – The Edina Realty Foundation is helping support Second Harvest Heartland, a Minnesota-based food bank, with a $60,000 donation, which will help create 43,636 meals. Second Harvest Heartland is working around the clock to prepare thousands of emergency food boxes for families facing hunger due to missed work. Families in need can access meals, be prepared for illness, and reduce their risk of exposure to germs, especially coronavirus, thanks to the organization’s efforts.

“Hunger won’t take a break for the COVID-19 outbreak, in fact, the need will grow dramatically. We’re grateful to our friends at the Edina Realty Foundation for stepping up to help. Leaders like those at the Edina Realty Foundation make clear that, while we may be facing many tough challenges ahead, we won’t face them hungry,” said Allison O’Toole, CEO of Second Harvest Heartland.

According to Second Harvest Heartland, this $60,000 Edina Realty Foundation grant provides more than 43,000 meals to those in need. To make an even greater impact, this grant is being matched by Schwan’s Corporate Giving Foundation to double that contribution.

Second Harvest Heartland’s emergency food box program is being distributed to people via additional methods and to meet the unprecedented high demand created by the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes distribution through a drive-through option to minimize contact and risk of illness and through several local food shelves. These emergency food boxes are designed to provide a steady supply of food that won’t require multiple visits to the food shelf.

“Edina Realty’s agents and employees believe everyone should have a place to call home and no one should go hungry,” says Greg Mason, CEO of Edina Realty Home Services. “We know that the COVID-19 pandemic has created a hardship for many, and as a team, we’re determined to do our part to help with this urgent need.”

In 2019, the Edina Realty Foundation – dedicated to supporting and improving the lives of the homeless in the Minnesota and Wisconsin communities that Edina Realty serves – donated a total of $407,000 toward the cause of homelessness. Since its inception in 1996, the Foundation has raised more than $10 million and remains steadfast in its commitment to provide housing and other services to those in need.

About Edina Realty: Edina Realty is a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate and a wholly-owned subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc. It is one of the nation’s largest real estate companies with more than 75 real estate offices and more than 2,300 REALTORS® throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Edina Realty's family of companies includes Edina Realty, Edina Realty Title, Edina Realty Insurance and Edina Realty Mortgage. Edina Realty also has marketing relationships with HSA Warranty and 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty. Edina Realty closed nearly 28,600 real estate transactions and $8.78 billion in sales volume in 2019. For more information, visit edinarealty.com or find us on Facebook: facebook.com/EdinaRealty; and Twitter: Twitter.com/Edina_Realty; and Instagram: Instagram.com/EdinaRealty.