“Fill a Ford” Food Drive Was a Success

Farmers find pride and joy in growing wholesome food for families at every budget level. But when a family can't afford to put enough food on the table, the entire farming community takes it personally and works to correct it.

Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) Young Leader Committee leads the fight for hunger and held a food drive at IFB's Governmental Affairs Leadership Conference last week. The Committee asked conference attendees to bring donations - enough to "Fill a Ford with Food!"

It was a success. IFB members donated $270 and 522 pounds of food, enough to fill the bed of a new Ford truck. The donations will go to the 21 counties served by the Central Illinois Food Bank.

This generosity does double duty. Not only does it serve immediate needs of local families, but it also added to total donation numbers of the Harvest for All competition. If Illinois' Young Leaders collect more money, pounds of food, and/or volunteer hours than other states do, an additional donation check is awarded to Illinois food banks. Earlier this month, IFB's Young Leaders received an extra $2500 donation for their 2012 efforts and want to repeat that success in 2013.

Illinois Farm Bureau's Young Leader Committee thanks everyone for their generosity and commitment to fighting hunger.