Thousands of Valley Families to Benefit from Midwest Food Bank Arizona, USDA Partnership
By Lisa Padilla -
Tuesday May 26, 2020
Midwest Food Bank Arizona will be receiving and distributing thousands of pounds of additional nutritious food through the USDA Farmers to Family Food Box Program.
The USDA is partnering with national, regional, and local suppliers, who have been significantly impacted by the closure of food service businesses, to purchase up to $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy and meat products. The suppliers will package these products into family-sized boxes and transport them to food banks.
Through its participation, Midwest Food Bank Arizona will be receiving about 3-5 semi loads of this food weekly. This should enough food to feed 2,000 Valley families each week, on average.Midwest Food Bank will be increasing distribution days to ensure efficient delivery of the food.
“The quick structuring of this program has allowed Midwest Food Bank to efficiently get food into the hands of those who need it,†says David Kieser, President and Founder of Midwest Food Bank. “As a farmer, it is gratifying to be a part of a program helping those in need and food producers.â€
The Farmers to Family Food Box Program is in phase one. MFB anticipates its participation will grow in subsequent phases through the end of 2020.
“This program dovetails with our increased focus on distributing more nutritious food,†says Merilee Baptiste, Executive Director of Midwest Food Bank Arizona. “It will be a great blessing to our partner agencies who have seen such a rise in need.â€
Midwest Food Bank has 11 locations, nine in the United States, and one each in East Africa and Haiti. Its mission is to share the love of Christ, by alleviating hunger and malnutrition locally and throughout the world and providing disaster relief; all without discrimination.