The farm and ranch families of Farm Bureau last year raised more than $273,000 and donated more than 18 million pounds of food to hungry Americans as part of Farm Bureau’s Harvest for All program through Feeding America. Combined, the monetary and food donations provided the equivalent of more than 16 million meals.
The money raised, food donated and meal equivalents in 2010 all shattered program records. The Harvest for All program was established in 2003.
In fact, the 18 million pounds of food donated by Farm Bureau families in 2010 is nearly three times as great as the 6.7 million pounds donated in 2008, the previous record. The $273,000 in funds donated in 2010 surpasses the 2009 level of $213,000, which was also a record. And the number of meal equivalents served at 16 million bests the previous record of 6.4 million also set in 2008 by nearly 10 million meal equivalents.
American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman urged Farm Bureau members to make 2011 another record-breaking year for the Harvest for All program.
“I am extremely proud of the accomplishments of Farm Bureau’s young leaders for last year’s record-breaking performance in Harvest for All,” Stallman said. “I know Farm Bureau members and YF&R leaders can make 2011 another record-breaking year for feeding America’s hungry, and that is my challenge to them.”