DAVENPORT, IOWA – The John Deere Foundation, in partnership with River Bend Food Bank and Feeding America, has activated one thousand Deere employees across six regional sites for the largest food packing initiative in River Bend Food Bank’s history.
The meal packing events will create 5,350 packed boxes of food to feed individuals in River Bend Food Bank’s 23-county service area. The initiative is an investment of more than $200,000 by the John Deere Foundation to provide more than 80,000 pounds of food, enough to fill five semi-trucks.
John Deere Foundation President Taryn Edgin said partnering with River Bend Food Bank and Feeding America, the nationwide network of more than 200 food banks, is central to Deere’s mission.
“John Deere is committed to hunger relief and supporting communities in need. Over the past month, Deere employees across the globe — more than 3,300 employees in11 countries— have come together for meal packing events to serve their neighbors. And in doing so, we honor the hard work of farmers, whose tireless efforts inspire our mission every day.”
Deere & Company’s commitment to local food banks spans more than 40 years, including millions of dollars in funding. In November 2024, Deere announced a $6.6 million three-year grant to Feeding America.
“Deere has supported River Bend Food Bank from the very start,” said River Bend President & CEO Chris Ford. “From providing essential seed money to establish the food bank in the early ‘80s through helping us address the challenges of food insecurity today, we know we can count on John Deere’s partnership to help us continue to provide nutritious food to our community.”
The local John Deere meal packing events with River Bend kicked off Sept. 12 with 76 employees of John Deere Harvester packing 600 boxes.
The largest local packing event took place Oct. 16 at John Deere Davenport Works with 500+ employees packing 2,800 boxes. The final event in the series will take place Oct. 29, with 15 volunteers from John Deere Dubuque packing 300 boxes at River Bend Food Bank’s St. Stephen’s branch.
Deere’s local meal packing events are part of River Bend’s All Hands on Deck initiative. Typically, local companies commit $10,000 in food and packaging supplies to create over 300 meal boxes, or six to eight pallets, to be distributed to local families. Usually food boxing events engage 25 volunteers as a team building experience.
All Hands on Deck provides critical food to River Bend as food donations have declined and food prices have increased. All Hands on Deck was launched in 2024, and River Bend has completed nearly 30 events in addition to this Deere initiative.
“Scaling All Hands on Deck for this $200,000+ Deere commitment was a challenge, but also a joy,” said Volunteer Engagement Manager Jana Fleming. “Deere employees have dove into the hands-on packing events with passion and a competitive streak to best their fellow worksites in both boxes packed or number of volunteers participating.”
For more information about scheduling an All Hands on Deck: visit riverbendfoodbank.org/allhandsondeck_2025/
