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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

 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 ...

 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 ...

 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Humility = Success. This is just one of the many pieces of wisdom shared by David Kieser, Midwest Food Bank's President and Founder, during a podcast interview on The Savvy Sauce. Laura Dugger, The Savvy Sauce host, invited David to share some of the "God stories" he has experienced at MFB. During the 84th episode of the weekly podcast, David ...

When you gather with family and friends to give thanks this year, will there be food on the table? Sounds like a ridiculous question, but for many local families, it is not. Last year, Midwest Food Bank Bloomington-Normal partnered with Home Sweet Home Ministries to provide 2,200 Thanksgiving meal boxes to local families through the Give Thanks pro...

Midwest Food Bank Bloomington-Normal recently received a donation from Compeer Financial. The gift came from their social media campaign in June called #GiveGallons. For every person who used that hashtag with a picture of themselves enjoying a dairy product, Compeer Financial donated two gallons of milk. Tara Ingham, Executive Director o...

Midwest Food Bank is committed to helping the hungry of this world. However, we're concerned with more than just how much food we can provide. Our mission is to alleviate hunger AND malnutrition. Alongside our dedication to filling empty stomachs, we're focused on the nutritional quality of our products.  Think about your own grocery shopping....

Midwest Food Bank welcomes Lisa Martin to our family of employees. As the New Executive Director of the Morton location, Lisa will coordinate operations there. Responsibilities include directing warehouse and volunteer activity, community outreach, and overseeing financial and budgetary operations. Additionally, Lisa will serve ...

This summer, Midwest Food Bank Bloomington-Normal was blessed to offer a volunteer opportunity to at-risk youth. About 75 children and staff from the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington were invited to spend some time serving others, eating a lunch together and having some fun. The children packaged MFB's Tender Mercies meals. Th...