Archer Daniels Midland Company, the United Way of Southwest Minnesota and the Redwood County United Way are teaming up with Outreach, Inc. to Unite Against Hunger in southwest Minnesota. "Our goal is to help food insecure individuals and families from Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Yellow Medicine and Redwood counties through food distribution, meal planning and continuing education" said Marcy Heemeyer, executive director of the United Way of Southwest Minnesota. The United Way of Southwest Minnesota's priority areas of focus are: education, income (financial stability), health, united for safety & well-being, and united against hunger. Our priorities surrounding hunger align with the work ADM does and what our friends at the United Way of Redwood County are also seeing as a significant need.
The United Way of Southwest Minnesota is excited about the partnership with Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) and are thankful for their support. This effort will also be the first time the two United Way organizations have partnered together on an initiative. "We hope that this initiative is the platform for future opportunities, said Heemeyer. Our intent is for this project to lead lasting change through education, resource availability, community issue awareness and impact, volunteerism, mobilization of people power and food distribution to individuals and families in our own backyards."
On Monday, January 20, 2014, hundreds of volunteers are being sought to come together around this issue for a day of local service. Volunteers will be needed to package macaroni & cheese meals for distribution. All meals will be packaged in Marshall and then distributed free of charge solely to food shelves throughout Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Yellow Medicine and Redwood counties. The partnership of the two United Way organizations and ADM will allow for 70,000 meals or 11,666 bags of food to be packaged and distributed locally. Each bag serves 6 meals. The shelf life of the product is two years.
Simple, low cost, easy to make recipes will be included with each bag of macaroni & cheese. These recipes have been developed by a team of culinary experts at The Schwan Food Company and compliment the nutritionally sound protein packed macaroni. These recipes will allow recipients to see how to stretch their food dollars, while learning how to adapt recipes based on what is available in their pantry, grocery store and/or local food shelf. In addition, the MN Extension will work with us to offer continuing education, taste tests and meal planning on-site to food shelf consumers throughout our five counties for the shelf life/availability of the product.
The United Way of Southwest Minnesota will be leading volunteer recruitment, packaging efforts and distribution planning. Volunteers will help make packaging day successful. There are opportunities for individuals ages 6 and up and a variety of shifts/positions are available. Youth must be accompanied by an adult age 21 and over for the duration of their shift. Packaging and distribution will take place at the National Guard Armory. For more information, please contact the United Way of Southwest Minnesota at unitedway@unitedwayswmn.org; register to volunteer on our website at www.UnitedWaySWMN.org; or give us a call at 507-929-2273. Give. Advocate. Volunteer.
