(Johnston, Iowa) – Fareway Stores Inc. and the Iowa Farm Bureau have partnered together to donate 26,950 lbs. of ground protein to food banks across Iowa in the ‘Meat the Need’ campaign. For every 10 lb. tube of ground beef sold at Fareway Sept. 16th – 21st, one pound of lean protein was donated to local food banks in partnership with the Iowa Food Bank Association and the Food Bank of Iowa.

The donation took place Tuesday, Nov. 19th, at the Food Bank of Iowa in Des Moines. Fareway Stores, Inc. President Garrett Piklapp, Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson, and Food Bank of Iowa CEO Michelle Book spoke on the importance of local food donations, food insecurity challenges, and the important partnerships through the ‘Meat the Need’ campaign.

“Food insecurity is something we take seriously, and we understand it requires a collective group of partners to address the growing number of Iowans who need access to quality meat products,” Fareway President, Garrett Piklapp said. “Thank you to our generous customers for participating, Iowa stores and meat markets, and our partners at Iowa Farm Bureau for helping secure lean protein for local food banks going into the holiday seasons.”

Brent Johnson – Iowa Farm Bureau president, Michelle Book – Food Bank of Iowa CEO & Garrett Piklapp – Fareway Stores, Inc. president

“As farmers, we take tremendous pride in growing and raising the food that sustains our communities,” Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson said. “Food insecurity is a harsh reality of the challenging times many families currently face, so Iowa Farm Bureau is proud to join Fareway again to help ‘Meat the Need’ by providing lean, high-protein ground meat to our neighbors in need across the state.”