Feeding the Quad Cities: How Farmers and Volunteers Nourish the Community

As the seasons turn to autumn, the Quad Cities region of Iowa and Illinois is bustling with activity as farmers work tirelessly to bring in the crops that feed the world. But these hardworking individuals are doing more than just harvesting their fields – they're also playing a vital role in ensuring that families, regardless of their financial means, have access to nutritious meals.

Nourishing the Quad Cities, One Meal at a Time

Partnering with Farmers to Fight Hunger

The River Bend Food Bank, which serves five counties in Iowa and 18 counties in Illinois, is at the forefront of this effort. With a service area of nearly one million people, the food bank distributes an impressive 16.5 million meals annually. A key component of their success is the direct collaboration with local farmers and producers."It's really important for John Deere to make sure that everyone has food on their table, and we do this by honoring our farmers, our growers, our ranchers," explains Laura Eberlin, the John Deere Foundation Corporate Citizenship vice-president. "They are producing enough food to feed everyone in the world, yet a third of our food goes to waste each year. River Bend Food Bank is working directly with our farmers, our customers to help procure this food and save this food and get this nutrition into the hands of our neighbors."This partnership not only ensures that the meals distributed by the food bank are nutritious, but it also helps to reduce food waste and support the local agricultural community. By working closely with farmers, the River Bend Food Bank is able to access a steady supply of fresh, high-quality produce and other food items that are then distributed to those in need throughout the region.

The Power of Community Involvement

The success of the River Bend Food Bank's efforts is not solely dependent on its partnerships with farmers, but also on the unwavering support of the local community. From cash and grocery donations to the countless hours of volunteer service, the Quad Cities community has rallied behind the food bank's mission."The work that we do here at River Bend Food Bank could not be done without the help of the community and certainly John Deere leads the way in that support," says Chris Ford, the River Bend Food Bank President and CEO. "The last three years we've averaged distributing over 20 million pounds of food. We have 40 employees. Without the 2,000-plus volunteers and the 20,000 hours of volunteer service that they provide to us, we would certainly be unable to sustain that type of volume."These volunteers play a crucial role in organizing, packing, and distributing the food boxes that are delivered to pantries across the Quad Cities area. Their dedication and hard work ensure that the food bank can continue to meet the growing demand for its services.

John Deere's Enduring Commitment to Ending Hunger

One of the food bank's most significant partners is the iconic agricultural equipment manufacturer, John Deere. The company has a long history of supporting the fight against hunger in the Quad Cities region, dating back to the farm crisis of the 1980s."John Deere has been committed to helping end hunger and we have been here in the Quad Cities and we look forward to continuing that journey and working with River Bend Food Bank and our nonprofits," Eberlin says.Beyond financial contributions, John Deere also encourages its employees to volunteer their time and expertise to the food bank and other community organizations. In fact, last year, Deere employees volunteered a remarkable 300,000 hours to give back to the communities they serve."We have hundreds of John Deere employees volunteering each and every year to River Bend Food Bank and helping in the pantry systems and delivering the meals and helping put food boxes in cars and in trunks and we have logged over 5,000 hours volunteering for River Bend Food Bank," Eberlin adds.This deep-rooted commitment to supporting the local community and addressing food insecurity has made John Deere an invaluable partner in the River Bend Food Bank's mission to nourish the Quad Cities region.