Land O’Lakes, Inc. donated nearly 40,000 pounds of LAND O LAKES® Macaroni & Cheese to Great Plains Food Bank through the Land O’Lakes First Run Program. This donation will be avaliable to Great Plains Food Bank’s 196 partner food pantires, soup kitchens and shelters and will provide over 100,000 servings of fresh, ready-to-eat food across North Dakota and Clay County, MN.
The First Run Program has donated over 7 million pounds of product since it was established in 2010. The program is committed to donating truckloads of fresh product year-round, made specifically for food banks to help alleviate hunger across the United States.
“As a farmer-owned cooperative, Land O’Lakes, Inc is deeply committed to hunger relief. This effort begins locally in the communities that our members and employees call home, many of them rural.” said Sheilah Stewart, SVP & General Counsel, Land O’Lakes, Inc. “We are honored to help our Feeding America food bank partners get fresh, nutritious food directly to the families who need it most.”
Additionally, Land O’Lakes member-owner Valley United Cooperative made a $500 donation to the Great Plains Food Bank in support of local food security, which will be matched by the Land O’Lakes Foundation. Paul Coppin, CEO of Valley United and Land O’Lakes Board of Directors member, visited the food bank in recognition of these donations.
“The only way we are going to end hunger is by doing it together. Their support demonstrates what’s possible when the agricultural community, local organizations, and food banks come together with a shared goal – to take care of our neighbors,” shared Darby Njos, Communications Manager at the Great Plains Food Bank. “To everyone at Land O’Lakes and Valley United Cooperative, thank you. Your generosity is making a tangible difference in our communities.”
For more information on Land O’Lakes’ commitment to the community, visit at www.landolakesinc.com/responsibility.