Land O’ Lakes Donates 40,000 Pounds of Macaroni & Cheese to Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana

Members of the Co-Alliance Cooperative of Indianapolis, stand in front of the pallets of cheese donated by Land O' Lakes. The Co-alliance also donated $2,000 to Second Harvest. Photo by Mike RhodesMembers of the Co-Alliance Cooperative of Indianapolis, stand in front of the pallets of cheese donated by Land O' Lakes. The Co-alliance also donated $2,000 to Second Harvest. Photo by Mike Rhodes

By Lindsay Sankey, Co-Alliance Cooperative—

MUNCIE, IN—Land O’Lakes, Inc. donated nearly 40,000 pounds of LAND O LAKES® Macaroni & Cheese to Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana through the Land O’Lakes First Run Program. 

The First Run Program has donated more than 6.7 million pounds of product since it was established in 2010. The program is committed to donating truckloads of fresh product year-round, made specifically for food banks to help alleviate hunger across the United States. 

“As a national, farmer-owned cooperative, Land O’Lakes is committed to helping the growing number of people who struggle to put food on their table,” said Sheilah Stewart, SVP & General Counsel, Land O’Lakes, Inc. “The First Run program provides a unique opportunity for Land O’Lakes to offer nutritious products to families in need.” 

“We are thrilled to receive this amazing donation to the people of our communities. Land O’Lakes and Co-Alliance Cooperative are wonderful partners and this food will help us serve over the 70,000 food and resource insecure neighbors throughout East Central Indiana,” said Bekah Clawson, President & CEO, Second Harvest Food Bank. 

“Our farmer-owned cooperative plays a large role in producing the safest, most abundant food supply in the world. There is no reason why people in our rural communities should go hungry,” said Kevin Still, President & CEO of Co-Alliance Cooperative. “The First Run program is a terrific way to harness the power of the local and regional cooperatives to serve a large amount of people. Eight Indiana counties will be covered with this donation.” 

The cooperative also made a $2,000 cash donation at the time of the macaroni and cheese contribution. 

What 40,000 pounds of Mac & Cheese looks like on pallets. Photo by Mike Rhodes

What 40,000 pounds of Mac & Cheese looks like on rows of pallets. Photo by Mike Rhodes

The First Run donation is part of Co-Alliance’s cooperative-wide initiative to promote and invest in food security throughout the trade territory in 2023. The co-op recently concluded an internal employee food security drive, Planting The Seeds For Food Security, that raised $15,480. That commitment from the farmer-owned cooperative is now being tripled, as Co-Alliance is matching every dollar donated by employees and Land O’Lakes will match what Co-Alliance commits through their Member Co-op Match program. 

Planting The Seeds For Food Security was developed to invite employees to play a key part in ending hunger in local rural communities. The total money raised to be given back to rural communities through food security donations and the match program is officially $46,440. Employees were also given the opportunity to elect specifically where those funds are distributed. They could choose churches, community or regional food banks that serve families in their hometowns. It is through this very personal feedback that Co-Alliance will now direct those dollars throughout the spring and summer. 

For more information on Land O’Lakes’ commitment to the community, visit www.landolakesinc.com/responsibility. 

 

About Land O’Lakes, Inc. 

Land O’Lakes, Inc., one of America’s premier agribusiness and food companies, is a member-owned cooperative with industry-leading operations that span the spectrum from agricultural production to consumer foods. With 2022 annual sales of $19 billion, Land O’Lakes is one of the nation’s largest cooperatives, ranking 232 on the Fortune 500. Building on a legacy of more than 100 years of operation, Land O’Lakes today operates some of the most respected brands in agribusiness and food production including Land O’Lakes Dairy Foods, Animal Nutrition, WinField United and Truterra. The company does business in all 50 states and more than 60 countries. Land O’Lakes, Inc. corporate headquarters are located in Arden Hills, Minnesota. 

About Co-Alliance Cooperative, Inc. 

Co-Alliance Cooperative, Inc. is a member-owned supply and marketing operation delivering innovative solutions for farmer-members and customers across Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan specializing in agronomy, propane, fuels, grain, seed, hog production and feed. The customer-focused company strives to deliver on its collective mission to lead with people and technology, grow profitably, give back locally, and remember its cooperative roots. 

About Second Harvest Food Bank 

Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana collaborates with 164 partners in Blackford, Delaware, Grant, Henry, Jay, Madison, Randolph, and Wabash Counties. The mission of the organization is to provide help for today by feeding the hungry and hope for tomorrow by addressing the causes of food insecurity while empowering people toward self-sufficiency; with a goal to feed East Central Indiana’s most vulnerable residents through a region-wide network of member agencies and programs and to engage our region in the fight to end hunger. Each year, the Second Harvest Food Bank network provides assistance to more than 70,000 neighbors facing food or resource insecurity, including more than 20,000 children and over 5,200 older adults.