Food banks and pantries across the country are seeing a surge of demand as measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus continue to cripple the economy and cause more stressed families and children to rely on food bank assistance.
To help combat the crisis, Farm Credit Mid-America, an agricultural lender serving farmers and rural residents across Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee, donated $100,000 to help meet the additional community needs and bridge the gap for more than 25 food bank distribution centers throughout its four-state territory.
For the last five years, Farm Credit Mid-America has provided more than $500,000 to Farms to Food Banks, a program that brings farm-fresh produce into communities in need. Financial contributions, coupled with the volunteer efforts of more than 1,500 team members and customers, have supplemented more than two million meals since the partnership began. Today’s additional funds will help the agencies distribute even more food to people in their communities during this crisis.
“Food banks are a lifeline to so many in our communities, and it’s essential that we support their efforts, particularly now,” says Bill Johnson, president and CEO. “This is a time for us to pull together, and to do what we can to help.”
Food banks have not only responded to increase in the numbers of clients served, but have also changed distribution methods, and found that fewer volunteers are available and more packaging supplies are needed. Some have sent mobile food pantries into neighborhoods to make food more accessible. Others are creating drive-through sites and grab-and-go pre-packaged meals for students. In some states, the National Guard has pitched in to safely package and distribute food.
“These are not ordinary times and food banks aren’t facing ordinary struggles,” says Johnson. “We want to ensure that these vital organizations have the resources they need to put food on people’s tables.”
