Second Step Foundation Donates an Additional $300,000 during the Government Shut Down

Second Step Foundation Donates an additional $300,000 to Help Fight Hunger during the Government Shut Down

 MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, November 6th, 2025 | Second Step Foundation believes that no one in America should be hungry.

The government in Washington continues its shutdown. One of the unfortunate consequences is that approximately 42 million Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will not receive the food assistance they need. In the absence of this support, many individuals and families will turn to local food shelves for help.

In response to this urgent need, Interstate Companies, Inc., in partnership with The Second Step Foundation, is taking action. With the full support of Interstate’s Board of Directors and a majority of the Second Step Foundation’s Board, an additional donation from Interstate Companies to The Second Step Foundation was approved. This will increase the earlier announced gifts in October 2025 from $300,000 up to $600,000 across 30 markets.

This donation can serve as a beacon to others, encouraging others to join in the fight against hunger.

This funding will continue to help these food banks purchase food and other necessities. The Second Step Foundation is committed to help feed people in the communities where Interstate Companies’ employees live and work.

Donation Recipients

Second Step Foundation made a total of 30 donations to the following organizations:

• Second Harvest Heartland (Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN)
• Friends In Need Food Shelf (Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN)
• Rocori Area Food Shelf (St. Cloud, MN)
• Horizon Meals on Wheels (Cedar Rapids, IA)
• River Bend Foodbank (Quad Cities/Davenport, IA)
• Food Bank of Iowa (Des Moines, IA)
• Food Bank of Siouxland (Sioux City, IA)
• Greater Chicago Food Depository (Chicago, IL)
• Rock River Valley Pantry (Rockford, IL)
• Meals on Wheels of NW Indiana (Gary, IN)
• The Hope Market (Kansas City, KS)
• DICSA (Iron Mountain, MI)
• Billings Food Bank (Billings)
• Great Falls Community Food Bank (Great Falls, MT)
• Montana Food Bank Network (Missoula, MT)
• Great Plains Food Bank (Bismarck, Fargo, and Williston, ND)
• North Country Food Bank (Grand Forks, ND)
• Food Bank of Lincoln (Lincoln, NE)
• Food Bank for the Heartland (Omaha, NE)
• Feeding South Dakota (Sioux Falls and Watertown, SD)
• Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern WI (Madison, WI)
• NOW, Nutrition on Weekends (Marshfield, WI)
• Friends with Food (Milwaukee, WI)
• Edible Prairie Project, Summer Weekend Meals for Kids (Gillette, WY)
• Needs Inc, Food Pantry (Cheyenne, WY)
• Mary’s Food Bank (Phoenix, AZ)
• Sacramento Food Bank (Sacramento, CA)

About Second Step Foundation

The Second Step Foundation was formed in 2014 by the family of Interstate CEO Travis Penrod as a registered not-for-profit that has supported deserving charities with financial grants each year.

In early 2020, the foundation board established new direction for the organization to tie it more closely to Interstate Companies, Inc. and the 30 communities in which it serves across 14 states. The foundation, believing that no one in America should be hungry, has intensified its focus on fighting hunger by supporting local food shelves and similar charities that help feed people.

The foundation’s logo carries a tagline, “Fueled by Interstate Companies,” which signifies that the ongoing success of Interstate Companies will help sustain the foundation. Employees in the local branches of each division nominate charities in their communities to be considered for a donation. Learn more at www.secondstepfoundation.org.

About Interstate Companies, Inc.

Interstate Companies, a growing industrial conglomerate headquartered in Minneapolis, operates over 60 business units in 42 facilities across 14 states in the Midwest, Rocky Mountain, West and Southwest regions. Interstate was founded in 1957. In its years in business, it has focused on distribution, sales and support of heavy-duty trucks, diesel engines, industrial bearing and power transmission products, industrial transmissions, power generation, transport refrigeration and other products. Interstate also provides contract assembly services and industrial labor.

Interstate Companies consists several operating divisions: I-State Truck Centers, Interstate Power Systems, Interstate Bearing Systems, Interstate Energy Systems, and Interstate Assembly Systems.

Contact: Samantha Rains | Interstate Companies, Inc. | 952-854-2044 | 1340 Corporate Center Curve | Eagan, MN 55121