​Ambassadors in the Nebraska north region recently teamed up with ambassadors in western Iowa from the Council Bluffs office to co-host a fundraising drive to benefit the Food Bank for the Heartland and raise awareness about food insecurity throughout the region.

To raise money, the ambassador team organized a fun challenge incorporating some friendly, team-spirited competition in honor of the Iowa vs. Nebraska football game on Nov. 25. Starting on Nov. 1 through Nov. 18, employees throughout eastern Nebraska and western Iowa were encouraged to donate for their favorite team – the Cornhuskers or the Hawkeyes. Fans raising the most money to donate to the Food Bank of the Heartland won a season's worth of bragging rights and unlimited Thanksgiving goodwill.

The Huskers proved victorious on and off the field besting the Hawkeyes 24 to 17 at the big game and by collecting $475 in donations. Iowa fans contributed $245 in honor of the Hawkeyes, making the total donation to the Food Bank of the Heartland an impressive $720!

The Black Hills Energy give back didn't stop with a donation. The ambassador team joined forces for a donation check presentation and a Team Black Hills Energy volunteer day at the Food Bank for the Heartland (located in Omaha).

The Black Hills Energy volunteer team rocked the assembly line and put together a whomping 1,336 weekend food kits as part of the Backpack Program. The packs are handed out to students throughout the metro area. The Backpack Program, a partnership with area schools, offers packs of weekend breakfasts and lunches to children. Each week during the school year, 8,381 packs — equaling 33,524 meals — of easy-to-prepare or ready-to-eat nutritious food are distributed to children in 253 schools in 112 school districts in Nebraska and western Iowa. 

The Black Hills Energy team averaged 41.2 kits per person, which put our group in the "high performing" category! 

Food Bank for the Heartland serves 93 counties throughout Nebraska and southwest Iowa, partnering with local food pantries in many of the communities we serve in the north region and Council Bluffs metro (and beyond). Food Bank provides food and other necessities to families struggling to afford these items. 

Why money and not food, you ask? Monetary donations allow the Food Bank of the Heartland to purchase much needed perishable items such as milk and meat. The Food Bank is able to purchase in bulk stretching every $1 you donate into four nutritious meals for families in need.  

Game score

Huskers 24         
Iowa 17 

Donations received as of November 28

Nebraska Huskers = $475
Iowa Hawkeyes = $245

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