Sheldon, Iowa — A Sheldon program was recently awarded a grant from Alceco, a farmer owned cooperative and the Land O’ Lakes Foundation. $2,000 was awarded to the Sheldon Summer lunch program, which helps to fill a need in the community by feeding both hungry children and adults.
The Sheldon Summer lunch program provides lunch Monday through Friday when school is out of session to anyone who attends, free of charge.
With every lunch, the program provides a take-home snack, and on weekends, provides a backpack full of food to cover weekend food needs.
Program organizer and Sheldon Mayor Tricia Meendering said the program kicked off last summer, and in 10 weeks, served over 2,000 meals to attendees of all ages, though between 85-90 percent were children.
The grant was presented by Alceco Board Secretary/Treasurer Dixon Van Meeteren.
“Alceco strongly believes in supporting communities where our members live and work. The program fills a need in the community by helping feed the hungry, something our farmer-members do every day in their operations,” Van Meeteren said. “We are proud to partner with the Land O’ Lakes Foundation to provide these grants.” The Land O’ Lakes Foundation match program matches dollar-for-dollar the cash donation of member cooperatives. Alceco, a farmer-owned cooperative established in 1905, continues to thrive as the majority owner of Ag Partners, L.L.C.
