Feeding America, the nation's leading anti-hunger organization, is happy to announce a $1 million donation from Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) to support the operation of 30 mobile food distribution units operating in 21 states.
The money will go to help bring food to rural areas, a critical need since residents in those areas are often far from any safety net services. It's also an area with large pockets of people in poverty - according to the US Department of Agriculture, about 15 percent of rural households in the US are at risk of hunger.
Over the next two years, ADM will fund $30,000 grants to 30 Feeding America member food banks in 21 states for mobile distributions. On average, a $30,000 grant provides six mobile distributions within each food bank's counties, including food, transportation and promotional costs.
The mobile units will be operated by their local Feeding America member food banks. Volunteer outreach opportunities also will be identified in local communities, matching ADM employees and customers with local food banks.
"Getting food to everyone - especially those families in rural areas that may have trouble connecting with one of our member agencies is critical," said Matt Knott, interim president and CEO of Feeding America. "Thanks to the generosity of ADM, our food banks will be able to distribute much needed food like fresh produce, dairy products and meat, to low-income families in remote and rural locations, which are traditionally the most difficult for us to serve."
The contribution was made through ADM Cares, a social investment program that directs funds to initiatives and organizations that drive meaningful social, economic and environmental progress worldwide. The program comprises three distinct focus areas: supporting the responsible development of agriculture, improving the quality of life in ADM communities and fostering employee giving and volunteer activities.
"ADM is committed to making a difference in the places where we live and work, and especially in the wake of this year's severe drought, we believe it is critical to address the issue of hunger in rural communities," said ADM chairman and CEO Patricia Woertz."The mobile food banks we are supporting will help to deliver food to people who are not only in need, but who may live a long way from their closest food bank."
This contribution builds on other ADM efforts in rural communities, particularly Invest An Acre, a joint project with Feeding America, The Howard G. Buffett Foundation and Monsanto, in which farmers can choose to donate part of the profit from their crop at ADM elevators to help feed their neighbors in need (for more information, see www.InvestAnAcre.org).
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About Feeding America
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs, we helped provide 5.3 billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; brings attention to the social and systemic barriers that contribute to food insecurity in our nation; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
ADM
For more than a century, the people of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) have transformed crops into products that serve vital needs. Today, 30,000 ADM employees around the globe convert oilseeds, corn, wheat and cocoa into products for food, animal feed, industrial and energy uses. With more than 270 processing plants, 420 crop procurement facilities, and the world's premier crop transportation network, ADM helps connect the harvest to the home in more than 160 countries. For more information about ADM and its products, visit www.adm.com.
