Monsanto employees help fight rural hunger
Hundreds of Monsanto Company employees at nearly 40 different locations across the U.S. - ranging from Hawaii to Massachusetts - will be involved in the company's first "Rural Hunger Volunteer Week." The employees will be volunteering in teams at their local food banks this November as part of Monsanto's push to raise awareness about and combat hunger in rural America.
The West Fargo Monsanto was involved in the effort by volunteering at the Great Plains Food bank on Nov. 20. Among West Fargo volunteers participating were West Fargo volunteers include Christine Moore and Vic Nordstrom.
More than 15 percent of rural households are food insecure, according to Feeding America, which amounts to three million households in the very communities where much of the world's food supply is raised.
By mobilizing employees across the country, Monsanto hopes to make a real impact while bringing the issue of rural hunger into people's consciousness this holiday season.
"As counterintuitive as it may seem, there are millions of rural families that simply don't know where their next meal will come from," said Brenda Cockrell, Monsanto's Global Volunteer Program Manager. "As a company with deep roots in rural America, we are committed to helping address this problem. That is what Rural Hunger Volunteer Week is all about."
Even though America's farmers are among the most productive and efficient in the world, hunger is a significant problem in America - and rural America is no exception. According to Feeding America, more than 15 percent of rural households are food insecure. That is around three million households in the very communities where much of the world's supply is raised.
Monsanto is a consistent supporter of America's farmers and their communities. In addition to Rural Hunger Volunteer Week, the company is involved in several other key efforts to fight hunger in America. Recently, Monsanto pledged $3 million to Invest an Acre, a partnership which helps farmers support their local food banks. Other efforts include annual food drives at industry tradeshows, which have raised 80,000 pounds of food over three years, as well as donations to rural food banks amounting to $300,000 through the Monsanto Fund's America's Farmers Grow Communities program.
Monsanto is continuing to develop tools for farmers that help them get the most from their land - but the company recognizes that production is only part of the solution. That is why the company is working to raise awareness about rural hunger in America. It is going to take collaboration and people willing to lend a helping hand to get food on the tables of those who need it most.
More information about Monsanto's commitment to end rural hunger can be found at www.monsanto.com/fightinghunger.
