One in six Americans will go hungry today, let alone have access to a nutritious meal. In a joint effort to eradicate hunger in Northeast Florida, two businesses are working to enhance the communities in which they operate by improving access to healthy food for local children, families and residents.

The Plum Creek Foundation recently partnered with CoBank to fund the pouring of a concrete slab for a new freezer at the Florida Gateway Food Bank, a nonprofit operated by the Catholic Charities Bureau with 33 partner agencies serving Suwannee, Hamilton, Union and Columbia counties. Plum Creek and CoBank provided $5,000 grants for a total gift of $10,000 to support the purchase.

“We need the resources to fight and end hunger,” said Suzanne M. Edwards, regional director of Catholic Charities Lake City. “Relationships with companies like Plum Creek and CoBank provide those resources and are absolutely vital to feeding our communities. No one should go to bed hungry. We are grateful that these organizations have joined us in ending hunger and putting compassion into action.”

Through Farmers Feeding Florida, a food recovery program established by the Florida Association of Food Banks, the Florida Gateway Food Bank is one of many organizations across the state slated to receive surplus locally grown fruits and vegetables from farmers and packers who choose to donate their produce.

When first struck, this partnership between farms and food banks meant positive strides for healthy eating options for Florida’s disadvantaged, but a lack of storage for perishable fresh produce presented a problem for the Florida Gateway Food Bank. The grant from Plum Creek Foundation and CoBank presents the solution.

The new freezer, which also functions as a cooler, is designed to store large quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables. At 20 feet by 20 feet, the freezer is capable of storing pallets of produce, which are accessible via forklift. Freezer installation and construction begins in September. Plum Creek and CoBank’s grants fund the concrete pad on which the freezer is built.

“We want to establish a healthier, stronger community. When community need is met by desired funding from community businesses, we grow stronger together,” said Allison Megrath, a manager of real estate for Plum Creek. “The infrastructure these grants provide supports the continued food security and nutrition of the Northeast Florida region. We could not be more proud to support the food bank in cooperation with CoBank.”

Mirroring Plum Creek’s initial grant, CoBank’s $5,000 contribution is part of the bank’s Sharing Success grant matching program, which is designed to support positive local initiatives across the nation. This latest partnership with the Plum Creek Foundation furthers both companies’ stake in rural, agricultural communities.  

“Partnering with customers like Plum Creek to support worthy causes they care about is a great way for CoBank to make a positive difference and fulfill its mission of service to rural America,” said Michael Tousignant, sector vice president for CoBank.

The Plum Creek Foundation supports nonprofit organizations and community projects that improve the overall quality of life in the communities where Plum Creek operates. The Foundation board meets quarterly to review submitted grant applications. Visit www.plumcreek.com/communityinvolvement to download an application and learn more about the Foundation grant program in addition to other ways that Plum Creek is serving its communities.