Thursday the River Bend Food Bank in Davenport received a check for 23,000 dollars from the Illinois Farm Bureau, and its program called Bushels for Hunger.
Nancy Renkes, food bank President and CEO, says farmers agree to donate a portion of the money they receive for their crops. And this year, 48 farmers in Rock Island, Henry, and Mercer counties participated.
"At a time when food donations are down, the need is climbing, and we're purchasing more food than ever to make sure that we can meet that need. This funding will all be used to purchase food for hungry people in our community."
Renkes says that 23,000 dollars will pay for about 118,000 meals.
And the gift could not have come at a better time - as of Wednesday benefits to food stamp recipients in Illinois reverted back to the lower, pre-pandemic levels.
Iowa lowered its SNAP benefits last spring.
Since the program began 13 years ago, Bushels for Hunger has raised about 300,000 dollars for the River Bend Food Bank.
