October 4, 2011—The management team at Lennard Ag decided this year that they were going to plant and grow 40 acres of potatoes and donate all of them to food banks and pantries to help alleviate hunger. Twelve additional corporate partners and 2.2 million pounds of potatoes later, the Grow to Give program has donated potatoes to several members of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, including the Food Bank of Northern Indiana, Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana, and Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana. Hoosiers in need in 23 Indiana counties will receive the donated potatoes through the agencies served by the food banks. Lennard estimates that the production from 40 acres will feed roughly four million people.
“There are families in need of food, both here and around the country. We have the ability to help and felt compelled to take action. We work with great people in this area’s ag industry and have joined together to share available resources to grow and provide nutritious potatoes to those families,” Kyle Lennard, partner in Lennard Ag, said.
“We could not be more thankful for the donation of fresh and nutritious produce to our member food banks,” said Emily Weikert Bryant, Executive Director of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry. “That the Lennards have made such a commitment to hunger relief and have devoted such time and energy to the program speaks volumes about their corporate philosophy on community and their eagerness for sharing the harvest.”
The donation comes just as new data shows more and more Hoosiers are in need. A recent report from Feeding America indicated that one in six Hoosiers are at risk for hunger, and as many as one in four Hoosier children.
Potatoes are an excellent source of nutrients. According to the United States Potato Board, one medium potato with the skin contains 45 percent of the daily value for vitamin C, 2 grams of dietary fiber, as much or more potassium than bananas, spinach or broccoli, 10 percent of the daily value of vitamin B6, trace amounts of other nutrients, and no fat, sodium or cholesterol.
About Lennard Ag Company
Lennard Ag Company is a family owned and operated farm growing potatoes and grain crops in southern Michigan and northern Indiana. Established in 1947, Lennard Ag is a three generations deep farm managed today by Kim Lennard and his children Kyle and Lori Lennard. Anchored by their strong history, Lennard Ag Company’s modern operations are complemented by their care for the land, their community and the people with whom they work. For more information about Grow to Give, visit www.lennardag.com/grow.
