Feeding Indiana’s Hungry is joining forces with United Producers Inc. (UPI), which operates four livestock marketing facilities in Indiana and has locations throughout the Midwest, to launch a month-long Cooperating to Feed Our Community fundraiser. This food bank fundraiser kicked off today, and is being held in honor of October being National Co-Op Month and 2012 being the International Year of the Cooperative.
“One in six Hoosiers doesn’t always know where they will find their next meal,” said Emily Weikert Bryant, Executive Director of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, the state food bank association. “That’s more than one million people in our state. For Hoosier children, the risk is a high as one in four. As we enter this season of harvest and giving thanks, we must remember that many among us don’t have enough, and it’s going to take everyone in our communities working together to end hunger. We are grateful that United Producers members and employees understand the difference an engaged community can make in ensuring our neighbors have enough to eat.”
To demonstrate the power of the cooperative, United Producers is asking its members and employees to help make a difference in their community this October by donating to their state food bank association. Members and employees can donate as little or as much as they wish—per head of livestock marketed through UPI or in a lump sum – and all donations will be tax deductible. Forms can be completed upon check-in at any United Producers market, or obtained from any UPI representative starting October 1.
“As a cooperative organization, we know how important it is to help those in our communities,” said Dennis Bolling, President and CEO of UPI. “Cooperating to Feed Our Community is a great opportunity for our farmer members and employees to give back to our community through making donations to our local food banks. Food prices continue to rise, and this is one tangible way our farmer members and employees are working together to help ease that burden for those in Indiana who need it most.”
