Second Harvest Community Food Bank announced Tuesday their Chief Executive Officer, Chad Higdon, has been elected Vice-Chair of Feeding America’s Policy Engagement and Advocacy Committee (PEAC).

This diverse committee represents a broad range of ideas and opinions on how best to serve families in need. The committee works through issues at hand to develop strategy and build relationships on behalf of our network.

In a release announcing his election Higdon said “A goal that we have at Second Harvest is to make the counties we serve, and those who serve our counties, aware of the services that we provide within their community. This committee develops policies and directs our network of food banks on engagement and advocacy.”

Second Harvest provides food assistance within a 19-county service area, 15 counties in Northwest Missouri and 4 counties in Northeast Kansas. Bringing awareness to individuals within each community via engagement and advocacy is paramount to assist the food insecure.

Last year alone, Second Harvest distributed over 9.9 million pounds of food within these 19 counties. While developing and adapting programs and food distribution methods to meet the increased demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.