A local philanthropic body has stepped up to provide assistance to counter the low turnout at this year’s fundraiser for the Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank. The Lahti Family Charitable Foundation has offered to match contributions to the food shelf, dollar for dollar up to $10,000.

A late-season snowstorm resulted in a low turnout at this year’s Empty Bowl fundraiser for the Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank, leaving a $9,000 gap in the organization’s budget.

But a local philanthropic body has stepped up to provide assistance in the form of a challenge pledge: the Lahti Family Charitable Foundation has offered to match contributions to the food shelf, dollar for dollar up to $10,000. The drive will continue through May 15.

“We don’t want anyone to go hungry in our community,” said Michael Rosenzweig, a representative of the foundation, in a written statement announcing the drive. “Food is a basic need, and it is really ‘hard times’ right now for a lot of people in our local communities.”

The need is great, according to Shaye Moris, the food bank’s executive director. She said Second Harvest’s food distributions for the year are running 23 percent ahead of last year’s level, and she praised the effort to bolster the food shelf’s funding.

“The Lahti Family Charitable Foundation has been so good to us over the years, and we are fortunate that they see the value in our work and want to help us feed the hungry,” Moris said in a statement issued today.

Another $10,000 in matching funds from the Lahti Foundation would bring its total donations to $50,000 during the past three years.

Contributions may be sent to Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank, 4503 Airpark Blvd., Duluth, MN 55811.

For more information, visit northernlakesfoodbank.org or call Moris at (218)727-5653, extension 113.