Conagra Brands proudly declared today that, with the overwhelming support from the Omaha community, the 17th annual Shine the Light on Hunger campaign not only met but exceeded its target of raising 5 million meals by an astounding 85%. The triumphant announcement of the final count, totaling an impressive 9,262,511 meals, took place during a morning press conference.
Expressing her deep connection to the city, Karen Black, Vice President of Research and Development at Conagra Brands, shared, “As a longtime Omaha resident, I have so much pride for this great city. Shine the Light on Hunger continues to be a campaign that inspires us all to come together so that children, teens, adults, and seniors throughout western Iowa and Nebraska have the food they need to thrive. The success of this year’s effort in raising more than 9 million meals is an immense source of pride as it highlights the incredible attributes that define the community leaders, businesses, and neighbors that call Omaha home.”
Local arts and cultural institutions in Omaha, including El Museo Latino, Great Plains Black History Museum, Omaha Symphony, and others, played a crucial role in supporting this year’s campaign. They hosted blue donation barrels to collect non-perishable food items from their patrons throughout the holidays. Baker’s Supermarkets, along with various organizations throughout the metro, also joined in by hosting these blue collection barrels.
Sheila Regehr, Corporate Affairs Manager at Baker’s, expressed their commitment, stating, “We are always happy to do our part and help our neighbors impacted by food insecurity. It is inspiring to see our customers and associates as they come together during this annual campaign and help provide nutritious food for community members in need.”
Park Omaha contributed by encouraging the public to make monetary donations through their special red-and-white striped parking meters located in the Old Market, Midtown Crossing, and the Blackstone District. They also included a digital donation option on their payment app and at multi-space parking kiosks.
Brian Barks, President and CEO of Food Bank for the Heartland, applauded the generosity of the community, stating, “This campaign is a shining example of the generous spirit of our corporate community and our neighbors across the Omaha metro. As the Food Bank faces record food insecurity levels, we could not deploy our mission without the ongoing support from our partners to create sustained change in the fight against hunger.”
Conagra Brands Foundation played a significant role by matching all monetary donations up to $100,000. Additional contributions from The Scoular Foundation, Farm Credit Services of America, and Baker’s, resulted in a total of $245,000 in matched financial donations. The campaign also received generous contributions from corporate, foundation, and individual donors, along with a donation from event partner Holiday Lights Festival. In total, the campaign raised over $3,000,000 for Food Bank for the Heartland.
The Shine the Light on Hunger campaign underscores Conagra Brands and Conagra Brands Foundation’s unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life for millions of families. By taking a year-round approach with nonprofit partners across the U.S., Conagra Brands contributes funds, donates food, engages its employees as volunteers, and helps raise awareness to mobilize the public to support food and meal programs for those in need.
