Local farmer wins $2,500 for food bank | Community Spirit

The Tri-State Food Bank distributes nearly eight million pounds of food each year to 33 counties in Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. Thanks to one local farmer and America’s Farmers Grow Communities, the Food Bank will now be able to feed more rural families.

Grow Communities, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, gives farmers the opportunity to win $2,500 for their favorite local nonprofit organizations. Virginia Grein, from Evansville, was the winning farmer in Vanderburgh County. She recognized the need for providing the community with food and directed the donation to Tri-State Food Bank.

“I picked the Tri-State Food Bank because food is the most important necessity,” Virginia Grein said. “The organization reaches out to many communities, not just one area.”

In a ceremony held on June 23, Virginia Grein got the chance to present Tri-State Food Bank with the $2,500 donation.

Through America’s Farmers Grow Communities:

• Farmers in 1,245 eligible counties have the chance to win $2,500 for their favorite community nonprofit organizations.
• The Monsanto Fund has invested more than $3.1 million to rural communities this year alone.
• 83 counties in Indiana are eligible. The Monsanto Fund will invest $207,500 in those communities.
• A list of all winners and more information can be found at  www.growcommunities.com

“We will use the donation to continue distributing food to local food pantries and soup kitchens in 33 counties,” said Mary Blair, Tri-State Food Bank director.

            Grow Communities is part of a broad commitment by the Monsanto Fund to invest in farm communities such as Vanderburgh County. It aims to highlight the important contributions farmers such as Virginia Grein make every day to our society.