Understanding the importance of high-quality protein as part of a healthy diet, Beef Councils and other agricultural organizations around the country are collaborating with neighbors and producers to help beef up school programs and food pantries.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 17 million people lived in food-insecure households in 2022. In these households, over three million children experienced food insecurity.
Beef provides more than 10 essential nutrients, including protein, iron, zinc, and B vitamins, and can be an important part of a healthful and nourishing diet. And, that’s where these organizations come in, to help secure nutrient-rich protein for families and youth in need.
Beef Up Arizona
In collaboration with Arizona apparel company State Forty Eight, the Arizona Beef Council’s third annual “Beef Up Arizona” campaign will be selling t-shirts and stickers, with all proceeds going to St. Mary’s Food Bank to be earmarked for the purchase of beef. For every dollar donated, five meals are provided.
The donation effort comes at a critical time when protein donations are down and often have to be purchased by the food bank. The donation will help provide nutritious meals to our hungry neighbors in Arizona.
Preorders are open now and close April 1st, so order soon! All orders will be shipped in late April.
Beef Counts (Idaho and Washington)
When the beef communities in Idaho and Washington learned of the severe shortage of high-quality protein donations at the local food banks, they took action by creating the Beef Counts Program.
Since 2010, through community donations, Beef Counts has provided over 2 million servings of zinc, iron and protein-rich beef to those in our communities that need it most.
“The Beef Counts program is a great way to give back to the community. As a rancher, I believe strongly in the quality and commitment that goes into producing beef and beef products in this state. As a good neighbor, I and other ranchers want to make sure that all Idahoans have access to the nutrient-dense protein of our beef,” says Trish Dowton, Pahsimeroi Valley rancher and Idaho Beef Council board member.
Agri Beef matches all Beef Counts donations up to $50,000 every year. This makes all contributions go further, resulting in a bigger impact.
Beef Sticks for Backpacks (Colorado)
Formed by members of the Colorado agriculture community, BSFB’s mission is to produce and distribute beef sticks into backpack programs that help feed kids facing food insecurity on the weekends.
With the help of KidsPak of Loveland, the Colorado Beef Council, Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, Arcadia Asset Management, Colorado Cattlemen’s, Colorado Livestock Association, Colorado State University, and many others they have been able to provide to every food insecure child in Larimer County with one beef stick every weekend. Donations to the program can be made here.
Feeding Missouri partners with Mo Beef Kids
The Southeast Missouri Food Bank will begin distributing beef sticks as part of Feeding Missouri’s partnership with Mo Beef Kids.
The partnership aims to give food banks a more nutritious, filling snack option. Mo Beef will donate 90,000 sticks to six banks across Missouri.
The donation to food banks will come from Mo Beef’s new brand of snack sticks, “Beef Fuels You.” The brand will help to raise money for schools and backpacks.
