Mobile Food Pantry in Broken Bow on September 6

OMAHA, Neb. – Hunger is as real in farming communities as it is in urban food deserts. Across the Heartland, thousands of children, families and seniors struggle with regularly obtaining the food they need to be healthy. Food Bank for the Heartland and Farm Credit Services of America (FCSAmerica) are committed to helping those in need in rural communities. Food Bank for the Heartland is partnering with FCSAmerica to host a mobile food pantry in Broken Bow on Wednesday, September 6, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The mobile pantry will take place in the parking lot of the Tumbleweed Café, 850 East South East St., Broken Bow, NE 68822. FCSAmerica is funding the mobile pantry, and employees from the financial cooperative’s Broken Bow office will volunteer to distribute approximately 10,000 to 12,000 pounds of food free to individuals and families in need. The mobile pantry is for people living in Custer County and surrounding communities. Those in need of the service are invited to bring boxes or bags to assist in carrying the food they receive. No identification is required to receive food. Food Bank for the Heartland’s mobile pantry program delivers food directly to communities that have a high need but limited food resources. The one-day distribution is free, and in Custer County will include spaghetti, tomato sauce, canned pork and beans, cereal, pancake mix and other shelf-stable products along with perishable items, including a variety of fresh produce and bakery items. FCSAmerica is hosting 14 mobile pantries across the Food Bank’s service area in Nebraska and western Iowa, beginning in June and running through October. “Farm Credit Services of America is an extraordinary community partner,” said Ericka Smrcka, Food Bank for the Heartland’s director of network and client services. “The ongoing support of the company and its dedicated employees enable the Food Bank to distribute much-needed resources to help local families through our mobile pantry program. Thank you to Farm Credit Services of America and the community of Broken Bow. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue serving Custer County.” “We are honored to support organizations like Food Bank for the Heartland. Its dedication to addressing food and hunger issues in our local communities mirrors our mission of making a difference in the rural communities we serve," said Tami Campbell, Vice President of Retail Operations in the South Central Nebraska Region. Results of a study supported by the Conagra Brands Foundation, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and the Nielsen Company show approximately 12 percent, or 1,290 people, in Custer County are at-risk for hunger. Map the Meal Gap 2017 is a study from Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization, which provides data on a county level. Of the more than 1.8 million people living in the 93 counties served by Food Bank for the Heartland, there are approximately 213,840 struggling with hunger according to study results. About Farm Credit Services of America Farm Credit Services of America is a customer-owned financial cooperative proud to finance the growth of rural America, including the special needs of young and beginning producers. With more than $26.5 billion in assets and $4.8 billion in members’ equity, FCSAmerica is one of the region’s leading providers of credit and insurance services to farmers, ranchers, agribusiness and rural residents in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. Learn more at www.fcsamerica.com. About Food Bank for the Heartland (a member of Feeding America): Food Bank for the Heartland is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Omaha, Nebraska that acts as a central clearinghouse distributing food to more than 460 network partners across 77 counties in Nebraska and 16 counties in western Iowa. Food Bank for the Heartland has distributed 22 million meals in FY 2017 helping thousands of children, families, seniors, veterans, disabled individuals and others in need. For more information, visit www.FoodBankHeartland.org. Courtesy Angie Grote, MA Communications Manager Food Bank for the Heartland