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Food Bank vs. Food Pantry: What's the difference?

When visitors come to Midwest Food Bank for the first time they are often surprised by the size of our warehouses and the amount of food on our shelves. They aren't expecting forklifts, pallets, and semi-trucks. That's when the conversation turns to the difference between a food bank and a food pantry. Food banks – Midwest Food Bank, like other foo...
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MFB receiving thanks for COVID Disaster Relief

Midwest Food Bank has been shipping Disaster Relief all over the US since March (stories here and here). Family food boxes have have been helping people affected by business closures and layoffs. Volunteers have been assembling, filling, and driving food boxes every week. The Tender Mercies packing machine has been running non-stop, setting new pro...
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470 Hits
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Midwest Food Bank's unique Disaster Relief year

Typically, in July and August, Midwest Food Bank is preparing for the Disaster Relief we will provide during hurricane season. 2020 has been anything but typical. Much of our effort since March has been focused on Disaster Relief. The COVID-19 crisis has placed many people in a position of food insecurity. Thanks to your support, we have been ...
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673 Hits
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Connecting with Dad at Midwest Food Bank

It's that time of year again. Articles with titles like "Top ten gifts for Dad" show up. They appear for a reason. It can be difficult finding a meaningful gift for a parent. Forgive us for adding one more suggestion to the mix. Some truly unique and purposeful time spent with Dad would be a gift to both the giver and recipient. What dad wouldn't a...
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1039 Hits
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MFB working with food producers and suppliers

Challenges and opportunities describe the food supply chain in the United States due to COVID 19. At Midwest Food Bank we are focusing on the opportunities and how we can link potential food waste to people in need. MFB has started a "Save the Pork Program" that allows farmers to donate their hogs. With financial help from donors, MFB can cover the...
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617 Hits
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Midwest Food Bank agencies to benefit from USDA program

Midwest Food Bank is participating in a new USDA program benefitting food suppliers as well as those in need. The program is called the 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. The USDA will purchase u...
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4307 Hits
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MFB welcomes a new bookkeeper

The Midwest Food Bank central team welcomes a new bookkeeper to our team: Julie Bakewell. Julie will be assisting on the central and Haiti MFB accounts. She will be working out of the Bloomington-Normal location. Julie comes to Midwest Food Bank with many years of experience in accounting and non-profit work. They include time spent at State Farm a...
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MFB Bloomington-Normal welcomes new Volunteer Coordinator

There is a new face at Midwest Food Bank Bloomington-Normal. Shelby Moore has joined our team as the new Volunteer Coordinator.  "Shelby has a unique skill set that will effectively complement our team," says Tara Ingham, Executive Director of MFB Bloomington-Normal. "She has a huge heart for local and global outreach." Shelby has her BA in Bu...
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Midwest Food Bank announces a new location in Pennsylvania

Midwest Food Bank will open a new location in the Hershey, Pennsylvania, area, MFB President and CEO David Kieser announced today. Jason and Aleta Serrano of New York are leading a team of organizers to expand MFB's impact. They are currently seeking a facility to lease for the new division. "In Pennsylvania, 1 in 8 households are food insecure, an...
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1403 Hits
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Meet the people behind the opening of MFB Pennsylvania

 A box of cereal and a smile left a lasting impression on a 7-year-old boy in New York. Fast forward to 2020 and that boy is now a man in his early 40s and Jason Serrano can recount that event with clarity. "I know that smile was because she was doing God's work," Jason says about how the woman from a church down the street came to his ho...
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1666 Hits
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A letter from David Kieser

Dear Friend of Midwest Food Bank, What an extraordinary time this is! Just one short month ago, we would not have thought all of the changes we've been through were possible. And yet now many of us are sheltering in place, watching unusual events unfold. Much has changed in the 15 years since Midwest Food Bank began providing Disaster Relief after ...
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Midwest Food Bank Bloomington-Normal will participate in National Volunteer Week 2020

National Volunteer Week, April 19-25, celebrates the impact of volunteer service across the nation and in our communities. We invite you to be a part of this special week.  Midwest Food Bank Bloomington-Normal volunteer efforts are still planned in our warehouse with some slight modifications. We are all focused on health and sh...
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COVID-19 Disaster Relief posing unique challenges to Midwest Food Bank

This is an unprecedented season of Disaster Relief at Midwest Food Bank. Responding to the needs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is posing unique challenges.  Most states are experiencing work suspensions and quarantines, causing food insecurity. Rather than sending relief to a single disaster area, our partner, The Salvation Army, has been re...
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2800 Hits
2 Comments

MFB Bloomington-Normal 2019 Volunteers of the Year

 When we say Midwest Food Bank volunteers do just about anything and everything, we mean it. Drive 3 1/2 hours to pick up food? Sure, no problem. Scrub a warehouse floor? They get after it. Speak to a community group about the MFB mission? No stage fright here. Recently at the Bloomington/Normal warehouse, three volunteers were recognized for ...
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1120 Hits
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Volunteers a critical link at MFB

 Have you ever wondered what happens to the excess products at local grocery stores? Midwest Food Bank is fortunate to receive those quality excess products - bakery goods, dairy, produce and meat for example. That food is then given, free of charge, to food pantries throughout our region. Six mornings a week MFB Bloomington-Normal volunteers ...
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1496 Hits
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2020 Gala Dinner & Auction coming soon

 Save the Date!  The Gala Dinner & Auction to benefit MFB Bloomington-Normal will be held on Saturday, April 18. This beautiful evening features appetizers and a delicious, plated meal. Live and silent auction items may be viewed beginning at 5 p.m., with the live auction starting after dinner.  Tickets will be available soon (on...
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Volunteer lunches: A unique way to help

Midwest Food Bank Bloomington-Normal distributes food to partner agencies almost every work day. Most of those are smaller distributions of produce or to smaller agencies. But six day each month, we have a full-day distribution, when the our agencies receive the bulk of the food they give to their clients. On those full day distributions, a lu...
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719 Hits
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Midwest Food Bank recognized by Forbes and Business.org

Late in 2019, two business publications have recently had favorable things to say about Midwest Food Bank.  Business.org published a list of "The Best Charities for Your Money in Every State." Midwest Food Bank was selected as the best charity for your money in Illinois. Based on transparency and program expense, each of the fifty chariti...
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2073 Hits
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MFB Bloomington-Normal adds West Virginia remote distribution

Midwest Food Bank has begun a monthly remote distribution in Belle, WV, 12 miles south east of Charleston. Once a month, a truckload of food will travel to Belle for a single day distribution. There are currently 12 partner agencies who will receive the food to distribute to those in need. The first truckload of food will leave MFB Bloomington-Norm...
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MFB Nutrition interns add support

We continue to utilize the help of volunteer nutrition and dietetics interns to enrich our services to the pantries we serve. This semester's interns have pioneered a new agency/client newsletter, featuring powerhouse foods, recipes featuring products we distribute, and food safety tips. They have also made themselves available to our agencies by p...
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