This month, employees from the Farmer City Monsanto Production Site are joining them in their fight. The team collected food throughout November as part of the company’s third annual Rural Hunger Volunteer Month initiative.

Don Lerche is a volunteer for the food bank, he says a majority of their food comes from individual donations and from larger organizations like Monsanto.

Last year, nearly 1,000 Monsanto employees from 88 sites partnered with local nonprofit organizations and volunteered almost 4,000 hours as part of the Rural Hunger initiative. This year, they hope to raise awareness about the seriousness of the hunger problem in rural America, while supporting the organizations dedicated to this cause.

Linda Hadley, site occupational health nurse manager, says quote-"As a member of the local community and a contributor to the economic base of this community, the Farmer City Production Site employees feel it is important to reach out and support our local food pantry to serve those less fortunate. In DeWitt County, where our site is located, the overall food insecurity or meal gap is greater than 11%. We want to be a part of helping to close that gap, especially during the holidays. This is our way to show we care about ending hunger in our community.” - end quote.

In addition to Rural Hunger Volunteer Month, the company has helped collect more than 100,000 pounds of food over the past four years at industry trade shows, while also partnering with farmers to support more than 400 rural food pantries and food banks through the Monsanto Fund’s America’s Farmers Grow Communities program.

Salt Creek Research Center Food Bank serves an average of 80 families per month.