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The drive generated $1,250 in donations from customers and McLean County Farm Bureau contributed a $500 match.

"The generosity of our community exceeded our expectations," said Anna Ziegler, Assistant Manager for the McLean County Farm Bureau. "We are very pleased to help provide access to meat for those who rely on local food pantries."

Midwest Food Bank supplies food to 229 agencies, including 70 agencies in McLean County and currently only has enough donations for about 5 of those agencies to receive meat on a weekly basis, according to Mike Hoffman, Director of Operations for Midwest Food Bank.

"As local family farmers, we are committed to our communities and sponsoring this meat donation drive allowed us to help our neighbors in need," said J.C. Zimmerman, a grain and pork farmer from near Saybrook. Zimmerman serves on the McLean County Farm Bureau Board of Directors.

The meat donation drive was part of the Meating Needs McLean County campaign, a task force project of Leadership McLean County and the McLean County Chamber of Commerce.

Farmers and task force members volunteered to bag groceries at Cub Foods several times during the week to help promote the drive. Support for the program was also provided by a grant from the Illinois Corn Marketing Board.

"Our associates at Cub Foods were proud to play a part in this campaign," said Mike Rees, Assistant Manager. "We felt it was an opportunity to continue our strong relationship with Midwest Food Bank and give back to the Bloomington-Normal and McLean County community that has supported us so well."

The Meating Needs McLean County task force hopes to build on the success of this meat donation drive with similar events at different locations throughout the year to increase the supply of meat for Midwest Food Bank.