Second Harvest was originally founded in 1982 to coordinate the purchase, storage and distribution of food lines to community food centres and welfare agencies.

Second Harvest is unique to Western Australia and is a registered charity with tax deductibility status.

Second Harvest supports a network of 2 metropolitan Food Centres in WA. These Food Centres are not for profit and are run by volunteers. The network of Food Centres helps to break the cycle of poverty by providing low-cost foods and groceries to those in need. These are not considered handouts as Second Harvest buy and sell foods and give shoppers the dignity of choice.