Food Bank for the Heartland

Today, the Food Bank was honored to receive a special visit from Senator Deb Fischer! We are grateful for the Senator taking the time to visit our facility, participate in a round table discussion surrounding our hunger-relief programs, and show support for our mission. Her visit not only uplifted our staff and volunteers but also brought attention to the important work we do in the community. Thank you, Senator Fischer, for your visit and continued advocacy for addressing food insecurity. #FoodBankHeartland

Ever wonder what’s in season at the Food Bank? We are proud to say EVERYTHING is in season! And here’s how — thanks to our partnership with Fresh Connect Central, our Network Partners enjoy fresh, seasonal produce all year round! Fresh Connect Central — hosted by Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana — is an agri-food distributor primarily serving the national Feeding America network. In fiscal year 2024, the Food Bank distributed over 7.3 million pounds of fresh produce, with more than 2.6 million pounds provided by Fresh Connect. “Fresh Connect Central is our go-to for fresh produce. Their responsiveness, creativity, and alignment with our core values of respect, urgency, and integrity set them apart. While their products and services are outstanding, it's their exceptional people that make them truly great. We love Fresh Connect Central!” - Jason Moucka, Director of Food Procurement & Processing Our partnership with Fresh Connect is helping Heartland neighbors thrive by providing consistent access to healthy foods throughout the year! #FoodBankHeartland

Last week, the Food Bank’s President and CEO, Brian Barks, participated in a roundtable discussion focused on child nutrition. A big thanks to the USDA and Secretary Vilsak, for including the Food Bank into this important conversation. To learn more about the Summer Food Service Program, please click the link below. https://lnkd.in/egGWKjpJ #FoodBankHeartland

We are incredibly grateful to the Walmart Foundation for their support in empowering the Food Bank and our Network Partners to expand their capacity for receiving food donations from retailers. Their dedication to enhancing equal access to nutritious food throughout our service area is truly uplifting and inspiring. THANK YOU for making a positive impact on our community! #FoodBankHeartland

No time has been wasted since the Food Bank’s groundbreaking ceremony, on the demolition and construction of our new facility. Only four weeks in, our project partner, Darland, has already made great headway in clearing the site and preparing it for the construction phase. The support and enthusiasm from the community have been instrumental in driving the project forward, and we are grateful for the opportunity to make a positive, and lasting impact in the lives of our neighbors in need. Check out our capital campaign and new facility website to stay informed about our latest developments! https://lnkd.in/gM2rWcB9

Two Disaster Declarations for individual assistance have been issued for specific areas of Iowa that allow Iowa HHS to offer the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) for Iowans in specific ZIP codes. Applications and interviews can be completed in person and over the phone. For more information on when and how to apply, please visit the website linked below. https://lnkd.in/gZiBiNSe

It’s a very exciting #FeelGoodFriday today! We are thrilled to share that families in Nebraska are now receiving $120 in benefits per month, per eligible school-age child, to use for groceries this summer. Experiencing food insecurity as a child can have long-term impacts on academic achievement as well as mental and physical health. THANK YOU to everyone who used their voices in helping Nebraska become one of the first states to implement the Summer EBT Program! You are ensuring children and families have access to healthy foods all summer long. Learn more about the program at dhhs.ne.gov/SummerEBT.

We’re excited to share that Food Bank for the Heartland has been evaluated by Charity Navigator, the world’s largest and most trusted nonprofit evaluator, and earned ANOTHER Four-Star Rating! This is the highest possible rating on Charity Navigator. Charity Navigator’s third-party accreditation validates our organization’s operational excellence. This milestone achievement for the Food Bank couldn’t have happened without you and your support. Thank you for being part of our community. Your trust and support helps make a difference for our neighbors in need! #FoodBankHeartland

It’s #FeelGoodFriday at the Food Bank and today, we are highlighting a few of our incredible Strike Out Hunger teams! The participating organizations in this year's Strike Out Hunger competition are truly hitting home runs. So far — all the teams combined — have raised over 140,796 meals! That’s incredible work! We are deeply grateful for the support and commitment these organizations have demonstrated in helping our neighbors in need. With two more weeks ahead, keep swinging for the fences! #StrikeOutHunger #FoodBankHeartland

Communities nationwide are affected by hunger, and Hy-Vee, Inc. is dedicated to assisting everyone in obtaining nutritious food. You can take a stand against hunger by simply rounding up to the nearest dollar when you check out at Hy-Vee! Every donation gathered at stores in Nebraska and western Iowa will directly benefit our communities and aid those struggling with hunger. Your support is greatly appreciated in helping neighbors in the Heartland combat food insecurity. #HyVee #100MillionMealsChallenge #FoodBankHeartland