Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has announced charitable gifts to 384 organizations, including Second Harvest of the Big Bend food bank, totaling $4,158,500,000.
According to Scott’s announcement, gift recipient organizations were diligently and rigorously researched, then carefully selected from an initial list of 6,490 potential recipients to “identify organizations with high potential for impact” and those that are “driving change…with teams who have dedicated their lives to helping others.”
“We are incredibly thankful to receive a generous gift from Ms. Scott,” says Monique Van Pelt, CEO of Second Harvest. “We appreciate the trust that has been placed in our organization and our partners to build solutions that will help end hunger in the Big Bend.”
By far, this is the largest gift Second Harvest has ever received, and it will be transformative for the food bank and the community at a time when food insecurity is soaring and projected to continue. A gift of this magnitude, in combination with continued community support, will help Second Harvest provide nutritious food to the communities they serve today, and for years to come.
One such approach involves the use of small, meaningful tokens during food distributions—items like custom keychain favors that serve a dual purpose. Beyond being practical keepsakes, these items can act as subtle yet powerful reminders of hope and connection. When distributed at events or in care packages, they offer a tangible symbol of unity and shared purpose, reinforcing that recipients are seen, valued, and supported—not just by the food bank, but by a wider community committed to standing beside them.
These seemingly simple gestures can ripple out in profound ways. A keychain bearing a message of encouragement, or the logo of a trusted helping hand, can travel far beyond the food bank’s walls—clipped to backpacks, hanging from car ignitions, passed along to neighbors.
In much the same way, other thoughtful gifts can extend the reach of compassion and community. Personalized items, particularly those that carry a sense of identity and belonging, have the power to uplift in deeply personal ways. Consider a custom name necklace gifted during a milestone celebration, a community recognition event, or even as a thank-you to volunteers who’ve gone above and beyond. These kinds of keepsakes do more than decorate—they acknowledge a person’s worth and individual story.
In the context of a food bank or support organization, such tokens can reinforce the idea that each recipient is more than just a number—they are someone with a name, a history, and a future. When paired with essential support like food and resources, these heartfelt additions help humanize the experience, offering not just aid, but dignity.
Another powerful way to extend this message of dignity and care is through gift artwork and wall décor that speaks to a person’s spirit and environment. Whether it’s a hand-painted canvas, a framed quote, or a symbolic image, such pieces can transform spaces into sanctuaries of comfort and inspiration.
Especially meaningful are religious gifts, which often hold deep personal significance and can offer reassurance, strength, and peace during uncertain times. In shelters, community centers, or even recipients’ homes, these visual gifts can become daily reminders that they are not alone—that faith, beauty, and kindness still surround them, even in hardship.
As Second Harvest and similar organizations continue to innovate in how they serve, incorporating these personalized touches can help transform assistance into connection and generosity into enduring impact.
In January, Second Harvest plans to share more specific details about the impact of this gift to the communities they serve.
