Like most people, Darrell Pine planned and looked forward to retirement. His goal was to retire without financial worries or demands. So, when he punched out for the last time from Caterpillar last year, he knew he wanted to spend time at the gym, play some pickleball and softball, go fishing and explore photography.But he also doesn't take this ti...

The words dumpsite and community don't seem like they go together. But for about 15 million people around the globe, their community and home are in a dumpsite.Staff and volunteers at Kapu Africa have witnessed dumpsite communities with their own eyes. They see the many dangers. The statistics are the people standing before them, scavenging for foo...

 When Midwest Food Bank opens a new location, one of the first tasks is finding and equipping volunteers. When MFB Arizona was established in 2016, Linda Siggins was the person that took on that role. While she left MFB for a time, we are grateful she has returned as the Volunteer Coordinator this year. "Linda has a warm smile and a heart...

Backpacks not only hold books and homework. For some students, backpacks are how food is sent home for the weekend. Fern Street Backpacks is one of the food partners of Midwest Food Bank New England. They receive food, without charge, from MFB to put in the backpacks sent home to students in West Hartford Public Schools."We hope to provide sustenan...

Julie DeBoard hadn't heard of Midwest Food Bank Pennsylvania until Kathy Anderson-Martin told her that she had accepted the position of Executive Director."I knew Kathy from when she worked at the Salvation Army," says Julie. "When she told me she was going to work for MFB, I decided to check it out, and I've been here ever since.Julie started help...

The photo looks ordinary at first - smiling high school students in their graduation gowns, throwing their caps in the air. Except the photo is anything but ordinary. It's extraordinary. "This is what it looks like to radically transform the slums of Nairobi with the love and hope of Jesus Christ," says Chad Parker, GOYA Ministries founder and an a...

Last fall, around the globe, organizations celebrated International Day of the Girl. Kapu Africa (Midwest Food Bank East Africa), was one of those organizations that celebrated by visiting a school where girls receive an education, a nutritious meal, undergarments, and sanitary products. Christine Mutsoli, Executive Director of Kapu EA, spoke ...

Have you ever wondered what a nonprofit board does? Like all nonprofits, Midwest Food Bank is governed by a board of Directors. These twelve volunteers provide strategic and financial oversight for the organization. Additionally, each of the twelve MFB locations has an advisory board. While the employees lead the daily operations, the board pl...

Midwest Food Bank has hired Audrey Kamm as Executive Director of our Peoria, IL, location. She will assume the role on February 1. Audrey is replacing long-time Director Monica Scheuer, who is retiring at the end of this month. Audrey most recently served as the Vice President of Operations for the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce. There, she manage...

Each year hundreds of volunteers walk through the doors of Midwest Food Bank Bloomington-Normal and give thousands of hours of their time. While it's traditional for organizations like ours to name a "Volunteer of the Year," we aren't able to select just one volunteer in our amazing group of 9,000. Recently, MFB recognized the efforts of four volun...

When Whitney Creath lifts a heavy box during food distribution days, she knows she is lightening the load for a family. She knows because, as a teenager, her family relied on food banks, Ramen noodles, and peanut butter and jelly for some difficult years."I remember thinking, 'when I grow up, I want to be an adult that helps make things better...

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.  I Thessalonians 5:11 On November 30 and December 1, Midwest Food Bank Directors for all US location met in Morton, IL, for two days of encouragement, fellowship, and support. This included directors from Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Il...

While Haiti's myriad of struggles continues, God is sovereign and reveals himself in unique and powerful ways, especially in situations that look the most hopeless. Recently, a Midwest Food Bank sea container arrived in Port au Prince, only to realize that the route to our long-time storage depot with Double Harvest in Croix de Bouquet was impassab...

Areas in Kenya are in the fifth year of drought. Crops fail, and livestock is dying, increasing food insecurity in an already fragile location. In mid-October, Kapu Africa partnered with Operation Blessing to bring relief and the Gospel to hurting people. Operation Blessing raised funding for 18 tonnes of Tender Mercies and Unimix from Kapu Africa....

From manufacturing to healthcare to Midwest Food Bank, Temple Roe has a professional path that will be an asset to MFB. She joined the MFB staff as Human Resources Director this fall. "I'm thrilled to have found my way into a non-profit that provides to so many families and communities in need," says Temple. As the HR Director for Midwest Food...

This story is written by Danielle Witzig, a Nutrition and Dietetics student intern volunteering at MFB.Caleb Sawe is currently studying at Illinois State University and receives from an MFB Bloomington-Normal agency, School Street Food Pantry. Caleb is an international graduate student from Nigeria, West Africa. With only $900 in hand upo...

MFB nonprofit partner agencies have been seeing record needs. To help them, MFB Bloomington-Normal recently added a day (Wednesday) to our supplemental distribution week. But it was hard to find enough volunteers. We reached out to Salem4Youth to see if they could help fill the need. Salem4Youth is a nearby ministry for young men focusing...

Things have been a little chaotic at MFB Florida - almost like a hurricane came through.  Hurricane Ian made landfall on September 28 near Fort Myers, causing widespread flooding and power outages. While our location in Fort Myers didn't sustain any damage, we were without power for several days. That inconvenience didn't stop us from liv...

In his own words, MFB Morton volunteer Steve Nichols isn't retired. He's "unscheduled." He also has always been good at fixing things. Over the past 40 years, Steve has owned three businesses utilizing that skill. His work included woodworking and handyman services. Steve's ability to fix things helped him in technical writing and consulting. He sh...

Big or small - businesses have found a way to support Midwest Food Bank. From a coffee shop to a grocery store chain to a heavy equipment manufacturer, they've all found ways to contribute to our mission. Their support comes in a variety of ways as they create a culture of giving. Here are a few ways they impact nonprofits. 1. Grants - Some busines...