ARIZONA Holiday Meal Kit Volunteer Opportunities Midwest Food Bank Arizona is partnering with State 48 Roofing to prepare 3,000 Holiday Meal Kits for neighbors facing hunger. Each kit feeds six to eight people and includes a turkey or ham. Community members can serve by shopping for kit items, packing a pre-labeled box with family or friends, or gi...

BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL, ILLINOIS Celebrating Benita's Steady Commitment A faithful volunteer at Midwest Food Bank in Normal, IL, Benita Payne shares the reflection below in her own words. Hi, my name is Benita Payne. I'm a 59-year-old widow of two boys and a bonus daughter from my late husband, Stanley, along with two grandsons and one bonus granddaugh...

FLORIDA Drive Out Hunger Event Supports Families in Southwest Florida Our Top Golf Out-Drive Hunger event offered a relaxed and purposeful start to the day. Ninety-five participants gathered across 15 bays, sharing conversation, easy camaraderie, and a clear desire to support families in Southwest Florida. With the help of our sponsors, donors, and...

While this year brought no major hurricanes to US waters, Midwest Food Bank Morton continued steady disaster relief work. In partnership with the Salvation Army, more than 4,000 disaster relief food boxes were sent to Alaska, Arizona, and, most recently, Arlington, Texas. Flooding has affected many parts of the country, and we maintains at lea...

Microwaves are quick, convenient, and often the most accessible way to prepare a warm meal. However, with a few simple adjustments, you can make your food taste fresher, heat more evenly, and even reduce waste. 1. Arrange food in a ring Place food in a circle on the plate, leaving the center empty. This encourages even cooking since microwaves heat...

While the Southeast has experienced a quieter hurricane season, other regions continue to face flooding. In August, Midwest Food Bank Morton sent multiple truckloads of Disaster Relief boxes and cleanup buckets to Milwaukee as the community recovered from severe flooding. More than 1,000 Disaster Relief boxes were distributed, providing shelf stabl...

At Midwest Food Bank, we are grateful for the generosity of our supporters. Together, we are sharing the love of Christ by alleviating hunger and malnutrition and providing disaster relief. Together, we are truly helping millions of people every year. This year, we encourage our supporters to engage charitably and celebrate DAF Day with Midwest Foo...

We don't always get to meet the people we serve or hear real stories of their daily lives. Often, the food is delivered, the groceries are carried home, and life quietly continues. But behind every bag, every box, every meal is a family like the ODonnells, a family whose story helps us understand why giving matters so deeply. When we met this beaut...

BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL, IL Lory Sandberg Leads by Example in Bloomington For Lory, volunteering at Midwest Food Bank Bloomington began with a single Thrivent event in December 2018. What started as a holiday outing with her family has grown into a calling that continues to bless her and many others. After a 30-year career in social services, Lory retir...

BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL, IL Pastor Shares the Impact of a Partnership with Midwest Food Bank The following is a note we received from Willie D. Shears, Pastor, God's Divine Glory Ministry As a pastor, I've always been deeply committed to helping those in need. Our Outreach Ministry and food pantry have been powerful ways for us to make a difference in t...

This summer brought significant challenges with tornadoes in the Midwest and flooding in Texas and New Mexico.Midwest Food Bank responded by preparing and sending food boxes and hygiene kits as requested by our partner, The Salvation Army. After May's tornadoes, we moved 24 pallets of food and hydration supplies to St. Louis. Local distribution par...

Nutritious eating doesn't have to mean expensive ingredients or complicated foods. With some simple strategies, it's easy to nourish your body with healthy, delicious meals. Here are ten ways to make it work—practices many of us at Midwest Food Bank use at home: 1. Plan Your Meals with Nutrition in Mind Start with what you have, then build meals th...

It can start with a Question: Why don't all kids have enough food? Maybe your child sees someone holding a sign, hears something at school, or simply wonders aloud during a quiet moment in the car. However it begins, the question opens a door—not just to understanding, but to compassion in action. As parents and caregivers, we don't need all the an...

Midwest Food Bank responded to multiple disaster-hit areas in 2025. Severe flooding devastated communities across Kentucky and Tennessee, displacing families and overwhelming local resources. In California, wildfires have devastated over 40,000 acres, destroyed thousands of homes, and displaced countless families. Midwest Food Bank sent essential s...

Each year, millions of pounds of edible food go unused. In 2024, Midwest Food Bank recovered more than 144 million pounds of surplus food, redirecting it from landfills to nonprofit partners serving families and individuals in need. This effort is outlined in the organization's latest Annual Impact Report, which also notes that $526 million worth o...

Corruption, Challenges, and Change We've all heard the stories. We've seen the headlines: Haiti—a nation struck by crisis after crisis, where poverty, political turmoil, and natural disasters seem relentless. But headlines rarely tell the full story. What is really happening in Haiti? Why have so many organizations left while others refuse to give ...

At Midwest Food Bank, working with integrity is a core value. Today, we are humbled to share that our efforts have been recognized through accreditation by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). This milestone reflects our dedication to transparency, accountability, and the ethical management of resources entrusted to us. ECFA...

Midwest Food Bank is excited to welcome Aaron Klopfenstein as the newest addition to our National Board of Directors. With a deep connection to our mission of sharing the love of Christ and a professional background that combines financial acumen and strategy, Aaron is uniquely poised to help lead Midwest Food Bank in its next chapter of growth. Bo...

When it comes to serving those in need, Midwest Food Bank thrives because of community partnerships. Local businesses, schools, churches, and individuals unite to ensure that food and resources reach families facing hunger and hardship. Let's explore some of the standout ways businesses and groups in the community have stepped up to support MF...

Hurricane Helene tore through North Carolina's agricultural heartland, leaving farmers scrambling to sustain their livestock. In the wake of the hurricane, vast swathes of farmland have been rendered unusable, and local livestock producers face a grim reality: no feed for their cattle. Recognizing this urgent need, Midwest Food Bank has mobilized 6...