Local farmer/rancher, Tricia Messmer recently directed a $5,000 Bayer Fund America’s Farmers Grow Communities donation to the Blue Bag Program.
While Wessington Springs School District provides free or reduced meals to children at risk of hunger during the school week, it does not address the needs of children when school isn’t in session.
This is where the Springs Blue Bag Nutrition Program fills an important void with its backpack program. This program provides children with nutritious, easy-to-prepare foods once school lets out before weekends.
The America’s Farmers Grow Communities program, a Bayer Fund program, partners with farmers to provide grants to local nonprofits and schools to help their communities.
Through the program, farmers enroll for the chance to direct a $5,000 donation to a local eligible nonprofit organization or school of their choice.
In 2022, Bayer Fund revamped America’s Farmers Grow Communities program, making it easier for farmers across the country to find and fund the organizations and institutions that keep their communities thriving. This included doubling the individual donations to $5,000, up from $2,500 in previous years to provide a greater impact to local rural communities.
For more than a decade, Grow Communities has partnered with farmers to direct funds to programs and organizations that contribute to their communities’ health and vibrancy, such as food banks, schools and youth agriculture programs. Since the America’s Farmers programs began in 2010, the initiatives have awarded nearly $65 million to such programs.
Individuals or businesses interested in donating to Blue Bag or volunteering to pack bags can contact Rod Huisman, Niki Hainy or Johnny Kruse.
Farmers can enroll for the opportunity to direct a 2023 Grow Communities donation starting on August 1, 2022. To learn more about the enrollment process and how America’s Farmers programs are making an impact, visit www. Americasfarmers.com.
Bayer Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where Bayer customers and employees live and work by providing funding for food and nutrition, education and community development projects.