URBANA, Illinois – Employees from Monsanto in Thomasboro recommended Eastern Illinois Foodbank to receive a $10,000 grant from the Monsanto Fund’s 2017 site grant initiative. Funds from the grant will be used to support the Eastern Illinois Foodbank’s Foodmobile Program, a system of mobile food pantries designed to help bring nutritious food to areas of chronic or extreme need.
“1 in 5 children and more than 157,000 individuals do not know where their next meal will come from in eastern Illinois,” said Jim Hires, President and CEO of the Foodbank. “It’s particularly hard for those living in rural areas to gain access emergency food. Our Foodmobile Program helps close a critical gap for those households struggling to put food on their tables. We’re so grateful to Monsanto for their continued, generous support.”
Eastern Illinois Foodbank previously received Monsanto Fund site grants in 2015 and 2016 of $5,000 each. These grants were also used for the Foodmobile Program and provided emergency food and grocery products to more than 900 individuals, including 220+ children.
This year, the Monsanto Fund awarded more than $1.4 million to nonprofit organizations through its site grant initiative to help address essential needs in rural communities. Nonprofit organizations across the U.S. have received more than $7.5 million through this program over the last five years.
