River Bend Food Bank

River Bend Food Bank – founded in 1981 at the height of the farm implement crisis – serves as the central hub, distributing food throughout our 23-county service area that ranges from Dubuque County, Iowa, to LaSalle and Hancock Counties in Illinois. A network of more than 400 partner agencies throughout this service area – including food pantries, shelters, meal sites, residential treatment facilities, day care centers, and senior centers – distribute food from River Bend Food Bank to individuals and families who need it to augment other sources of support that they receive. Volume buying, receipt of donated food from the government and local retailers, and membership in Feeding America make this hub-and-spoke model the most efficient and effective way to get donated food into the hands of people who need it.

In 2021, River Bend Food Bank launched a capital campaign to create a secure, separated food receiving area; refurbishing the space where our volunteers sort and pack food; and providing accessible, covered pickup docks for their hunger-relief partners. The decision to launch the campaign came after a feasibility study showed strong community support for the organization.

Wastyn & Associates proudly partnered with River Bend Food Bank to conduct the feasibility study and carry out the campaign that, in about 18 months, raised $6.3 million toward this project.