Less than a month after collecting over three million meals in the 39th-annual Student Hunger Drive, and thanks to emergency funding dollars, River Bend Food Bank and its hunger-relief partners are distributing six million meals to people experiencing hunger.

President & CEO Chris Ford said the food bank is prioritizing speed and efficiency to turn the support received during the recently concluded government shutdown and SNAP freeze into hunger-relief for the more than 137,000 people who experience food insecurity in our 23-county service region.

“During these unprecedented times River Bend Food Bank received additional financial support from both Iowa and Illinois as well as significant generous donations from individuals and organizations in our community,” Ford said in a River Bend release Tuesday. “We’re putting these dollars to work by purchasing truckloads of most-needed food items and expeditiously getting that food to 400+ hunger relief partners and the guests they serve.”

As part of this urgent response, River Bend Food Bank is purchasing protein, shelf-stable milk, eggs, cereal, canned fruits and vegetables, as well as pre-packed meal packs. This food purchased with emergency relief funds will be distributed to River Bend Food Bank’s hunger-relief partners free of any fees.

Typically, the food bank charges a shared maintenance fee of 19 cents per pound of food requested by its pantry partners. This practice is aligned with guidance from Feeding America to offset a portion of the costs associated with safely storing, transporting and distributing donated food.

YouthHope Outreach Director Eric Mumma said access to these six million meals means more than just hunger relief.

“It’s a direct impact on families,” he said. “Being able to consistently give them decent and nutritious meals reduces hunger, which then reduces stress.”

Mumma said YouthHope’s Food Pantry at 3928 12^th Avenue, Moline, consistently serves 100+ guests per week. That number ticked up to more than 140 per week during the SNAP freeze. Through food from River Bend Food Bank and other donors, YouthHope can deliver food and build relationships and trust with pantry guests.

River Bend is able to make the six million meals available to partners thanks to several funding initiatives, including:

• $145,000 from Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Oct. 30 initiative to match all cash donations to Iowa’s six regional food banks up to $1 million.
• $700,000 from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s executive order in October directing $20 million towards food banks in Illinois.
• $129,000 from the Pritzker Community Health Initiative as part of its $1 million grant to Feeding Illinois.
• $250,000 matching challenge launched Nov. 19 by the Quad Cities Community Foundation and local funders for the River Bend Food Bank Hunger Relief Fund. This 1:1 matching opportunity is ongoing, with donations accepted at QCCF’s River Bend Food Bank Hunger Relief Fund.

Additionally, River Bend Food Bank announced on Nov. 6 that the 39^th annual Student Hunger Drive raised a record-breaking three million meals thanks to the work of students from 16 Quad-Cities area high schools and the Million Meals Match initiative.

On Nov. 6, students announced that this year’s Student Hunger Drive raised a grand total of 3,038,599 meals. That includes 926,393 meals raised by the 16 QC schools participating in this year’s drive, an increase from last year’s drive which raised 787,186 meals.

Ford said the support from Illinois and Iowa, coupled with the significant generosity of local individuals and organizations makes it possible for River Bend Food Bank to continue delivering hunger relief as federal programs and critical social safety nets are impacted.

“Every dollar we receive fuels a system that strengthens every pantry and food program in our network and ensures no one in our community goes hungry,” Ford said. “This support empowers River Bend Food Bank to address the needs of today. It also bolsters us as we anticipate the impact of future cuts to SNAP from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act a year from now.”

To donate to the food bank, click HERE.

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Jonathan Turner

Jonathan Turner -- who has called the Quad Cities home since 1995 -- has decades of experience as a professional journalist and pianist. His experience writing for daily newspapers, public radio and local TV encompasses a wide range of subjects, including the arts, politics, education, economic development, historic preservation, business, and tourism.

Jonathan most loves writing about music and the arts (which he now does as a freelancer for the River Cities Reader and Visit Quad Cities). He has a passion for accompanying musicals, singers, choirs and instrumentalists, including playing for QC Music Guild's 2023 productions of RENT and SWEENEY TODD. He is assistant music director and accompanist for the spring 2025 Music Guild show, ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE. He wrote an original musical based on The Book of Job, which premiered at Playcrafters in 2010. Jonathan penned a 175-page history book about downtown Davenport, that was published by The History Press in 2016, and a travel guide about the QC published by Reedy Press in 2022.