Stay Informed

Feeding America, the nation’s largest network of food banks, is making it easy for farmers and grain elevators to help alleviate hunger in Indiana through its Invest an Acre program.

A news release for Invest an Acre spells out the need in our state. “There are over 1 million individuals that struggle with food insecurity currently in Indiana – and many of these Americans live in the same rural communities that we do.  Ironically, too many Americans living in the nation's breadbasket – the most productive agricultural states – are painfully short of that proverbial bread.”

The Howard G. Buffett Foundation – with a mission “to combat hunger and improve the standard of living for vulnerable populations throughout the world” – initiated the program, and Monsanto has agreed to match every donation dollar-for-dollar up to $5,000 per year per farmer.

Farmers should check with their local elevator to see if it’s already participating.

When a farmer delivers crops, he/she should tell the elevator that a portion of the proceeds should be donated to Invest an Acre. The elevator processes the donation and deducts the amount from the total sale. Monsanto matches the donation, and Feeding American distributes the original donation and the match to a local Feeding America food bank. The farmer will receive a receipt for the donation, which is tax-deductible.

 “Because the Howard G. Buffett Foundation (which Buffet founded in 1999) is underwriting the program’s administration costs, Invest an Acre says 100 percent of farmer donations and matching gifts made through the program will be contributed to local Feeding America food banks and back into their own communities hunger relief efforts,” according to the news release.

Contributions may also be made online or by mail. To learn more, visit www.investanacre.org.