All Proceeds Benefit Food Bank for the Heartland’s Food Relief Efforts
(OMAHA, Neb.) November 14, 2023 – With the holiday season comes the opportunity to give back to the community and help neighbors in need, and there’s no better way to do so than supporting the Conagra Brands Foundation’s annual Shine the Light on Hunger campaign.
Now in its 17th year, this campaign serves as a rallying call for the Omaha community to help “Shine the Light on Hunger” this holiday season by supporting the frontline food relief efforts led by Food Bank for the Heartland. This year’s Shine the Light on Hunger campaign includes an ambitious goal of raising the equivalent of 5 million meals from November 14th to December 31st.
“Conagra Brands Foundation understands the significant impact that hunger has on the lives of people in our community and this is why we continue our longstanding support as lead sponsor of Shine the Light on Hunger,” said Michelle Miller, Vice President Global Business Services for Conagra Brands. “Families in our community need our help and it is important to raise awareness about food insecurity and support local food relief efforts that have a direct role in providing people with consistent access to nutritious food.”
To encourage the public’s participation in the campaign, every gift made before December 31st will be matched up to $245,000. This includes generous matches from the Conagra Brands Foundation, Baker’s Supermarkets as part of their Zero Hunger Zero Waste commitment, The Scoular Foundation, and Farm Credit Services of America.
In addition, there are several opportunities for the Omaha community to showcase their generosity and support the campaign, including:
- Picking up extra non-perishable food items while shopping at Baker’s Supermarkets in Omaha and Bellevue and dropping them in the blue barrels upon exiting the store. The Food Bank’s most-needed non-perishable food items include macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, canned fruits and vegetables, rice (bags or boxes), beans (canned or bags), pasta, pasta sauce, pancake mix, canned tuna, canned chicken, and boxed meals.
- Bringing non-perishable items when visiting local arts and culture organizations this season. Omaha’s arts and culture organizations remain steadfast partners in the Shine the Light on Hunger campaign, and have blue collection barrels located in their facilities. A full list of drop off locations can be found at www.HolidayLightsFestival.org/Shine-The-Light-On-Hunger/.
- Feeding the community by feeding the special red and white striped parking meters provided by Park Omaha. All proceeds from the meters benefit Food Bank for the Hunger and the Shine the Light on Hunger campaign, and specific locations can be found at www.HolidayLightsFestival.org/Shine-The-Light-On-Hunger/.
- Making monetary donations by visiting www.FoodBankHeartland.org.
There are also several food drive opportunities taking place throughout the Holiday Lights Festival season:
- Visit the Baker’s Supermarket 120th & Center on Saturday, November 18th between 11 am to 1pm to participate in a Stuff-the-Truck event. While you shop, you can purchase non-perishable items to help fill the Food Bank for the Heartland’s truck stationed outside the store.
- When you come to the Lighting Ceremony on Saturday, November 25th, consider donating to the Shine the Light on Hunger campaign through the Park Omaha app when parking at downtown meters and garages – including the garages at 15th & Douglas and 12th & Capitol, both of which will offer free parking that night. Additionally, bring non-perishable food items with you to the Lighting Ceremony – the Food Bank for the Heartland’s donation truck will be parked on-site that evening to collect donations from the public.
- Bring non-perishable food items with you on Sunday, December 3rd to the free KETV Family Festival from 11am to 4pm. The Durham Museum, Omaha Children’s Museum, Omaha Public Library’s Downtown Branch, and Omaha Police Mounted Patrol Barn will each have collection receptacles on-site where non-perishable food items can be dropped.
- Tune into KETV Channel 7 on Wednesday, December 13th to participate in KETV’s “Giving Wednesday” in support of Shine the Light on Hunger and Food Bank for the Heartland. Viewers can tune in throughout the day to learn more about the Food Bank and will be encouraged to give through KETV’s fundraising page and the Food Bank’s website.
“This year’s campaign comes at a critical time. The Food Bank is serving 4x the number of households compared to 2018,” adds Brian Barks, Food Bank President and CEO. “As we continue to navigate the rise in food insecurity levels with less resources – we are beyond grateful to live and work in such a generous city. We have been humbled by the steadfast support from everyone who comes together to make this season brighter for the thousands of Heartland neighbors struggling to make ends meet.”
The Shine the Light on Hunger campaign reinforces the significant commitment by Conagra Brands and Conagra Brands Foundation to improve the quality of life for millions of families by taking action to impact the issue of hunger. 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 people when they need it most.
For more information visit www.HolidayLightsFestival.org and click on the “Shine the Light on Hunger” tab.
About Holiday Lights Festival
Since 1999, the Festival has become an annual celebration of Omaha’s holiday spirit, complete with free, family-friendly events scheduled throughout the entire holiday season. In 2007, the Holiday Lights Festival added the Shine the Light on Hunger campaign, sponsored by Conagra Brands Foundation and in partnership with Food Bank for the Heartland. For more information on the 2023 Holiday Lights Festival, visit www.HolidayLightsFestival.org and follow the Festival on both Facebook and Instagram.
The Holiday Lights Festival is produced by Mayor Jean Stothert and Downtown Omaha Inc. Foundation, with event partners Conagra Brands and The RiverFront, and media sponsors KETV Channel 7 and STAR 104.5 The Christmas Station.
About Conagra Brands Foundation
Conagra Brands Foundation believes everyone has a right to healthy and nutritious food, while recognizing that food insecurity exists in every U.S. county. The Foundation partners with exceptional national and local nonprofits with high-impact programs located in the communities where we live and work. By focusing our efforts within five areas: Direct Food Access, Cooking Skills, Nutrition Education, Healthy and Active Lifestyles and Urban Agriculture, we are able to be a leader in the fight against food insecurity in North America.
About Food Bank for the Heartland:
Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, Food Bank for the Heartland—a member of Feeding America—is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission is to eliminate hunger in the Heartland by ensuring consistent access to healthy foods through community partnerships. Food Bank for the Heartland works with 555 network partners in 93 counties across Nebraska and western Iowa offering multiple hunger-relief and nutrition programs, helping to break the cycle of food insecurity among children, families, seniors, and veterans. For more information, visit FoodBankHeartland.org. on, visit FoodBankHeartland.org.
