By DAVID SMITH
North Central Co-op

WABASH — A locally owned cooperative based out of Wabash, North Central Co-op, donated to 18 food pantries and community organizations throughout north central Indiana and Michigan.

NCC is a proud supporter of local food pantries and a local champion of helping feed communities and families who struggle with food insecurity.

“One in seven Hoosiers and one in six Michiganders battle hunger. It takes community support and dedicated individuals to help combat the problem and NCC and our employees are glad to join the fight against hunger,” said NCC CEO Mark Tullis.

The Land O’Lakes Foundation, as a part of the Land O’Lakes Foundation Member Co-op Match Program, matches every dollar given by NCC through the Feeding Our Community initiative. This winter, NCC donated $18,500 to Feeding Our Community and, with their relationship with the Land O’Lakes Foundation, local food pantries received $38,000 in total support.

“Hunger in our communities is one of our greatest concerns and supporting programs with our partner Land O’Lakes to contribute to the well-being of those communities is a cause we take pride in at NCC,” said Tullis. NCC has given more than $100,000 in the last five years to local food organizations to help reduce hunger.

Giving back is at the core of cooperative businesses given that NCC is locally owned and locally controlled by Indiana and Michigan member-customers. The Feeding Our Community initiative is just one example of how NCC is committed to giving back to the local communities where their customers live and work.