Food Bank for the Heartland (AmeriCorps VISTA)

Food Bank for the Heartland is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that distributes food to 244 schools and 225 food pantries, emergency shelters and other nonprofit partners. Our service area is larger than any food bank in the country, spanning 77 counties in Nebraska and 16 in western Iowa. Fighting hunger is an ongoing, collaborative effort. We work with individuals, organizations, food manufacturers and distributors, grocery stores, the USDA and Feeding America to procure food. The Food Bank also purchases food to supplement donations. For every dollar we receive, we can provide three meals. Food Bank for the Heartland operates its own programs that serve vulnerable populations directly. They include Kids Cafe, BackPack, Mobile Pantry, SNAP and Kids Cruisin'​ Kitchen. During 2016, we distributed 16 million meals to our nonprofit partners that have touched the lives of over 250,000 people in the community.