Volunteering is a long-standing tradition at Land O’Lakes, Inc. Board of Directors meetings. Whether it’s helping harvest a community garden or making kids smile at a children’s hospital, these simple ways of giving back help speak to who we are and what we do as a farmer-owned cooperative. We’re happy to report that the tradition continues.

On April 20, the Board of Directors welcomed truckloads that contained 40,000 pounds of LAND O LAKES^® Macaroni & Cheese and 20,000 pounds of Kozy Shack refrigerated desserts to Placer Food Bank in Roseville, California as Land O’Lakes donated the product through the First Run program.

The Land O’Lakes Board of Directors, Chris Policinski, president and CEO, the Land O’Lakes executive leadership team and Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross were on site to meet with the Placer Food Bank team, and to learn about the work they complete to serve 72,000 hungry people each month through a network of 83 feeding programs in the greater Sacramento community.

"We are very grateful for the generous donation made by Land O’Lakes, which is going to go a long way in serving our hunger insecure families, children and seniors in the communities of Placer, El Dorado and Nevada counties,” says Dave Martinez, Placer Food Bank executive director. “We enjoyed the visit and giving them a tour of our facility. It's always great when a donor takes interest in what we do, how we do it and where we do it."

Since 2010, the First Run Program has donated more than 4 million pounds of product. The program is committed to donating truckloads of fresh product year-round, made specifically for food banks to help alleviate hunger across the United States.

“As a farmer-owned co-op, Land O’Lakes is committed to helping the growing number of people who struggle to put food on their table,” says Lydia Botham, Land O’Lakes Foundation executive director. “The First Run program provides a unique opportunity for us to provide a fresh, nutritious food for families in need.”

For more information on Land O’Lakes’ commitment to the community or to learn about ways you can get involved, visit the community involvement section on the Land O’Lakes Members site.