WoodmenLife Ups Its Game to Help Strike Out Hunger

Nobody could beat WoodmenLife’s fastball during Strike Out Hunger month in June.

This was the 17th year of Strike Out Hunger — an effort led by the Food Bank for the Heartland that spurs a friendly competition among local businesses to donate funds, food and volunteer time. Strike Out Hunger lasted all month and helped feed people in the Food Bank’s 93-county service area across Nebraska and western Iowa.

In support of the Food Bank for the Heartland, WoodmenLife surpassed all other participating companies with:

• 315 volunteer hours
• $70,089 donated

When the ninth inning ended, the Strike Out Hunger campaign generated enough donations to provide a total of 403,722 meals. WoodmenLife’s efforts provided 94,493 of those meals.

Built to Strike Out Hunger

Making our pitch to strike out hunger has been part of the WoodmenLife gameplan since 2015. That’s when we launched our National Community Focus of fighting hunger.

At WoodmenLife, we believe no one should have to wonder where their next meal is coming from. No child should have to go to school hungry. And no senior citizen should go to bed with an empty stomach.

Food insecurity is everywhere. According to Feeding America^®:

• 44 million Americans struggle with hunger
• 13 million children live in food-insecure households
• 7 million senior citizens face hunger right now

WoodmenLife’s National Community Focus of fighting hunger was created in hopes of reducing numbers like that. Since 2015, in partnership with our members, we’ve donated nearly 1.4 million pounds of food and more than $3.6 million to fight hunger.

From donating a couple hours of their time to organizing large-scale fundraisers, members of the WoodmenLife family help any way they can. Efforts include:

• Community food drives
• Food backpack-stuffing events
• Sorting donations at local food banks
• Serving meals at community kitchens
• Holding cookout fundraisers

During Strike Out Hunger month, WoodmenLife surpassed all other participating companies by donating 315 volunteer hours and $70,089. In total, WoodmenLife was responsible for providing 94,493 meals.

WoodmenLife Associates Step Up

For Strike Out Hunger month, we engaged our associates to help the cause in different ways. They responded, throwing pitch after pitch to strike out hunger by:

• Donating nonperishable food items
• Volunteering at the Food Bank during six scheduled service “innings” (each inning produced 300 meals per volunteer)
• Donating money — and, in some cases, applying for a matching donation from WoodmenLife, thereby increasing their impact
• Participating in a silent auction for the chance to attend the 2025 Food Bank for the Heartland Celebrity Chef Event

You can make a difference, too. Every single county in the United States struggles with food insecurity. Such a challenge brings the opportunity to strike out hunger where you live. Please consider volunteering with or donating to your local food pantry.

Find out more information about hunger in the U.S.

Learn more about WoodmenLife’s National Community Focus of fighting hunger.

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