Last week, the John Deere Foundation announced a $2 million gift to fund the vital expansion of the Food Bank of Iowa’s Des Moines distribution center and support its “Building Healthy Futures” capital campaign. This is on top of the nearly $270,000 in unrestricted funding that the John Deere Foundation has already provided this year to the Food Bank of Iowa. CEO Michelle Book said they are very appreciative of the incredibly generous gift.
The 30,000-square-foot expansion will allow the food bank to accept larger donations, purchase food more efficiently, and generally increase efficiency and safety. The project almost doubles the facility’s storage capacity at a time when food assistance is at an all-time high- in fact, the Food Bank of Iowa and its partners are serving 75% more monthly visitors than they were 18 months ago. While the reach of the food bank has been expanding, Book said this is the first expansion to the facility since they moved there in 1999.
This gift makes the John Deere Foundation the largest donor overall in the history of the Food Bank of Iowa. Book said John Deere has been a very valuable partner since the inception of the food bank.
This latest grant has allowed the Food Bank of Iowa to reach 88% of its funding goal for the new addition. Book said they are now within striking distance to get that goal reached.
Book added that partnerships like the one they have with the John Deere Foundation, as well as the generous help of individuals, are crucial right now in a time of increased need for food assistance.
For more information or to donate, visit https://foodbankiowa.org/buildinghealthyfutures/.
