(Omaha, NE) -- The 2022 installment of the Shine the Light on Hunger campaign surpasses its goal of raising 3 million meals
On Thursday, Conagra Brands announced that the 16th annual Shine the Light on Hunger campaign raised 12,438,273 meals for the Food Bank for the Heartland.
“The generosity shown by businesses, leaders, and individuals throughout this community is simply extraordinary,” said Rahul Sualy, Senior Director of Business Services at Conagra Brands. “Shine the Light on Hunger amplifies the compassion and generosity of this incredible community and demonstrates the power of our collective efforts to do so much good for people we may never personally know. On behalf of Conagra Brands, I am so proud to have helped the Food Bank for the Heartland raise more than 12 million meals for this community.”
This year, El Museo Latino, Great Plains Black History Museum, and Film Streams’ Ruth Sokolof Theater helped support the Shine the Light on Hunger campaign by hosting blue donation barrels to collect nonperishable food items from their patrons throughout the holidays. These organizations join other Omaha arts and cultural institutions like The Durham Museum, Holland Performing Arts Center, Omaha Children’s Museum, Omaha Community Playhouse, Omaha Symphony, the Orpheum Theater, and Opera Omaha in hosting these blue collection barrels, as well as all Baker’s Supermarkets throughout the Omaha Metro Area.
“We are so honored once again to be a part of the Shine the Light on Hunger campaign,” said Sheila Regehr, Corporate Affairs Manager at Baker’s. “This campaign aligns with our Zero Hunger Zero Waste commitment, and we are happy to do our part to help our neighbors in the greater Omaha community who are impacted by food insecurity.”
Once again this year, Park Omaha participated by encouraging the public to make monetary donations through charitable, candy cane-striped “parking meters” strategically located on sidewalks near businesses in the Old Market, Blackstone District, and Midtown Crossing. These “parking meters” accepted donations of both spare change and cards, with all contributions supporting Food Bank for the Heartland.
“Food Bank for the Heartland is honored to serve this community, and I thank everyone who supported this important campaign,” said Brian Barks, President and CEO of Food Bank for the Heartland. “Sixteen years of serving children, families, seniors, and veterans in the Heartland through this campaign is an incredible milestone. Shine the Light on Hunger continues to support our neighbors who struggle with food insecurity. This support is critical as we are still impacted by the crippling effects of inflation. We are grateful to Conagra Brands Foundation; the Scoular Foundation; Farm Credit Services of America; Baker’s; Mayor Stothert; the City of Omaha; Downtown Omaha, Inc. Foundation; Holiday Lights Festival; and Park Omaha for championing this initiative and to our community for its extraordinary support this year.”
Conagra Brands Foundation matched all campaign funds up to $100,000. This year, the campaign also saw matching gifts of $100,000 from the Scoular Foundation; $100,000 from Farm Credit Services of America; $20,000 from Baker’s Supermarkets’ Zero Hunger Zero Waste commitment; and $10,000 from the Holiday Lights Festival. Additional donations were provided by multiple corporate, foundation, and individual donors throughout the Omaha community.