The Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties announced this week that it had received a rather unconventional donation.

The food bank, located in San Jose, California, received a donated solar power system from Cypress Semiconductor Corp. and SunPower. The latter provided the panels for the installation, which is expected to result in significant energy savings over its 25-year lifespan.

The Second Harvest Food Bank will save an estimated $3 million over the next two-and-a-half decades - enough to provide about 6 million meals to the community.

"Cypress is pleased to help reduce the organization's operating expenses so that it can focus on what it does best - feeding the community," Cypress CEO T.J. Rodgers said.

Kathy Jackson, the food bank's chief executive, noted that there is 20 percent more demand for food this year than last, a sign that many people's economic struggles are continuing. The Second Harvest Food Bank's new solar array is coming at the best possible time - for both the nonprofit organization and the community it serves.