Hewlett-Packard Co. has provided hardware, software and other services to the Second Harvest food bank network for a secure online donation system. The gift came in time for the charity's National Food Bank Week, Oct. 11-17.

The secure server allows people to make donations through the Internet directly to Second Harvest's national office or any of its 187 regional food banks.

Online donations for National Food Bank Week can be made through Jan. 1, 1999. The donation system is part of Hewlett Packard's Networked to Fight Hunger program.

Based on its experience with the Second Harvest affiliate in Fort Myers, Fla., the Palo Alto, Calif.-based computer firm also has developed an online information guide for community groups and other small companies moving to a computer network system.

Second Harvest is the nation's largest charitable hunger-relief organization, serving all 50 states and Puerto Rico.