DAVENPORT, IOWA (May 27, 2026) — As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, River Bend Food Bank will welcome a fully-loaded semi-truck carrying up to 40,000 pounds of donated food and cleaning supplies on June 3. The donation is part of a collaboration between america250.org and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to support families facing food insecurity.
The Church of Jesus Christ is donating 250 such truckloads in 2026 to communities in all fifty states, providing millions of meals for neighbors in need. River Bend is one of two recipients in Iowa, along with the Des Moines Area Religious Council. In Davenport and communities across the country, the donations are being paired with service projects. Local church members plan to volunteer at River Bend Food Bank during the week of the donation.
River Bend Food Bank is the food rescue and distribution hub for food pantries and hunger-relief partners in 23 counties across eastern Iowa and western Illinois. The organization distributes food from warehouses in Davenport and Dubuque, Iowa, and Galesburg, Illinois, to approximately 400 partner organizations. This work helps provide over sixteen million meals each year to neighbors experiencing hunger.
“River Bend Food Bank is grateful for this generous donation and the partnership behind it,” said Chris Ford, President and CEO of River Bend Food Bank.
“At a time when many families are facing rising costs and uncertainty surrounding critical food assistance programs like SNAP, this support helps ensure our neighbors continue to have reliable access to healthy, nutritious food. As we prepare to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, this donation serves as a reminder of what we can accomplish when we work together.”
Steven Perry, a local leader among the Latter-day Saints, added, "We are thrilled to be one of the locations selected for these nationwide donations from our Church headquarters. Most of the donated food was grown on farms and produced at facilities where our Church members volunteer their time and resources to provide more stability to others."
America250 is a non-partisan congressional commission working to engage every American in celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Rosie Rios, Chair of America250, shared her thoughts on the national food donations: "As someone who grew up as the product of someone who might have received this generous food bank donation, it means everything to me.”
