In a significant display of community support, Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson, Michelle Book - CEO of the Food Bank of Iowa, and Garrett Piklapp - president of Fareway Stores, Inc. came together on Tuesday, Nov. 19. This was during a donation to the ‘Meat the Need’ campaign. The credit for this generous act goes to Fareway.Partnership and Donation Details
Fareway Stores Inc. and the Iowa Farm Bureau joined forces to donate a remarkable 26,950 pounds of ground protein to food banks across Iowa. From Sept. 16 - 21, for every 10-pound tube of ground beef sold through their partnership with the Iowa Food Bank Association and the Food Bank of Iowa, Fareway donated one pound of lean protein. The donation to Meat the Need was presented on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at the Food Bank of Iowa in Des Moines.Garrett Piklapp, President of Fareway Stores Inc., Brent Johnson, President of the Iowa Farm Bureau, and Michelle Book, CEO of the Food Bank of Iowa, addressed the critical need for local food donations and the challenges of food insecurity. Mr. Piklapp emphasized, "Food insecurity is something we take seriously. It requires a collective group of partners to address the growing number of Iowans who need access to quality meat products. Thank you to our generous customers, Iowa stores and meat markets, and our partners at Iowa Farm Bureau for helping secure lean protein for local food banks going into the holiday seasons."Fareway is a thriving Midwest grocery company with 140 stores in a seven-state region. Its Quad Cities locations include Davenport, Bettendorf, Moline, and LeClaire. As a family-owned business, it is recognized as a top 10 employer in Iowa and has over 13,000 total employees.
Proud to 'Meat the Need'
Speaking on behalf of Iowa's farmers, Mr. Johnson said, "We take tremendous pride in growing and raising the food that sustains our communities. Food insecurity is a harsh reality that many families currently face. Therefore, the Iowa Farm Bureau is proud to join Fareway again to help 'Meat the Need' by providing lean, high-protein ground meat to our neighbors in need across the state."The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation is the largest statewide, grassroots farm organization in Iowa. It is commemorating over 100 years of creating a vibrant future for agriculture, farm families, and communities. The Food Bank of Iowa was established in 1982 and provides nutritious food to children, families, and seniors. It serves 55 of Iowa's 99 counties and delivers 25 million + pounds of food (21 million meals) to 700 partners annually.
