MADISON, WI, August 25, 2023 – Officials from Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin and Compeer Financial announced today that the Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America is providing $50,000 to support the purchase of produce, dairy, eggs, and more from local farmers and food producers and distribution of the product to families struggling with hunger through Second Harvest’s Farm to Foodbank initiative.
“Everyone deserves access to the food that makes them feel part of the community,” said Michelle Orge, president & CEO of Second Harvest Foodbank. “Local, fresh produce should not be out of reach for anyone, and thanks to tremendous support from many different sources, including organizations like Compeer Financial, we’re able to put nourishing food on the tables of those facing hunger in our community while supporting our local economies at the same time.”
The goals of Farm to Foodbank are simple:
- Provide more nutritious food to those facing hunger in southwestern Wisconsin
- Support local farmers and food producers
- Invest in the local economy
Launched by Federal pandemic-relief funds allocated by Dane County, Farm to Foodbank has provided tens of millions of pounds of locally sourced food into our community. Working with over 55 local farmers and food producers throughout southwestern Wisconsin, in 2022 alone, the initiative helped provide 3.8 million meals and generate more than $12 million in local economic activity.
The $50,000 from Compeer was allocated through Compeer’s MORE for Agriculture grant, which, now in its fifth year, supports innovative programs that encompass four qualities:
- Mission: Aligns with the mission of Compeer Financial, enriches agriculture and rural communities
- Opportunity: Provides a new opportunity for clients or future clients, fills a known void in agricultural and rural markets, is a new and innovative project
- Replication: Can be replicated by others to serve different geographic areas, with the ability for future collaboration
- Evolution: Evolves over time to create a better future for agriculture and rural America
As part of the grant process, the Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America Trustees asked Compeer team members to identify programs and projects they believe create MORE for agriculture. In all, nearly $900,000 has been awarded to 20 organizations since 2019.
“It is an honor to join forces with these groups that are truly creating positive changes in their communities through groundbreaking projects,” said Karen Schieler, senior corporate giving specialist at Compeer Financial. “The recipients of the MORE for Agriculture grants are trailblazers and creative thinkers in the field of food and agriculture. Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin exemplifies this. We hope projects and programs like this will motivate others to contribute further toward ending hunger.”
The grant comes at a critical time for Second Harvest and its network of partner food providers like food pantries, meal sites, and shelters. In fiscal year 2023 – July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 – Second Harvest distributed 22.7 million pounds of food, more than any other fiscal year in its history. Recently, many of the food providers in the network have reported a 30%, 40%, and even 100% increase in the number of people seeking support.
About Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin
Since 1986, Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin has been working with local hunger-relief agencies in 16 southwestern Wisconsin counties. Through food distribution, promotion of outside food assistance programs, partnerships with healthcare providers and insurers, and raising awareness of hunger, we are making our vision of everyone in our community having enough nutritious food to thrive a reality. We are southwestern Wisconsin’s largest hunger-relief organization, providing tens of millions of meals each year to those who need them. Every day we prove that lives can be changed with food! For more information, visit www.SecondHarvestSW.org.
About Compeer Financial
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. The $30.5 billion organization provides loans, leases, risk management and other financial services throughout 144 counties in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Based in the Upper Midwest, Compeer Financial exists to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America, while providing personalized service and expertise to clients and the agriculture industry.
Compeer Financial is the third largest cooperative of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of lending institutions supporting agriculture and rural communities with reliable, consistent credit and financial services. Learn more about Compeer Financial.
About the Fund for Rural America
The Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America is the corporate giving program of Compeer Financial, structured to support Compeer Financial’s mission to enrich agriculture and rural America. Compeer Financial’s Board of Directors has dedicated one percent of annual net earnings to support the Fund’s focus areas of education, youth engagement, rural development and community enrichment, agricultural advocacy and development, and cooperative initiatives. The Fund is managed by a Board of Trustees, made up of team members from Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin and members of the Compeer Financial Board of Directors. More information about opportunities available through the Fund can be found at Compeer.com/giving-back.
