The Cargill Cares Councils showed their support for the Pella Community Food Shelf by presenting a $50,000 donation and providing volunteer efforts at the food shelf on Friday. 

The event was a part of Cargill’s commitment to tackle hunger in the communities where they operate and support the food shelf’s efforts to serve Pella and the surrounding communities. As part of the volunteer effort, Cargill team members helped with various projects at the Food Shelf, as renovations continue to transform the new building from the old Sports Page Bar and Grill. Among those in attendance for the event were Pella Mayor Don De Waard and representatives from Cargill and the Central Iowa Food Bank Network. Melissa Zula, Executive Director of the Pella Food Shelf, said that Cargill’s support will help establish their new permanent location on the west side of Pella. 

“It means so much to me and it’s very humbling as we continue to find these generous partners that want to come along and really help provide a permanent home here for the Pella Food Shelf. We’ve been serving here for 42 years and we’re broadening the ways that we’re serving, the areas that we’re serving, but we needed a permanent home and this building has provided it for us. And all these corporate sponsors coming alongside, including Cargill, it’s helping to close the gap.”

Hear more about the donation and event on an upcoming In Touch with South Central Iowa.