From left: MP’s George Agriesti, Julie Seiring, who chairs the board of Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank, and Shaye Moris, Second Harvest’s executive director. Proceeds from an MP-sponsored holiday light sale will help the food bank restock its shelves and serve disadvantaged area residents.

Representing the Company were Marketing Analysts Al Lian and George Agriesti and Administrative Coordinator Amanda Oja (who all help coordinate MP’s Conservation Improvement Program activities), as well as Community Relations Administrator Peggy Hanson.

MP and US Bank teamed up with ACE Hardware at its downtown Duluth and Woodland locations to offer the sale, which featured a $3 instant rebate on each string of energy-efficient holiday lights. MP and US Bank donated $1 to Second Harvest for each string sold from Oct. 15 through the end of December. Co-sponsors were Red Rock Radio and WDIO-TV.

Customers responded to the sale promotion in a big way, purchasing a total of 2,800 light strings.

Second Harvest board members also gratefully accepted a $2,500 check from US Bank officials at their meeting. The $5,300 total from MP and US Bank will greatly assist food bank operations – and provided additional benefits, too.

“This event really accomplished several good things,” said Lian, “especially when you consider all the people who benefited from the sale of every single light string. Every dollar donated to Second Harvest will provide five meals for disadvantaged children and adults. Customers were able to buy holiday lighting that’s safer, lasts longer and is highly energy efficient. And the retailers who worked with us were able to provide a product their customers want. We’re proud to be involved with an organization like Second Harvest, which helps so many Northland families.”

“The money raised will provide 26,000 meals for Northland families—so it’s a great contribution,” Moris told Powergram. “And the holiday light sale really helped us raise awareness of food bank needs at a critical time.”