Zion Lutheran Food Pantry in Hanska, Minn., started when community leaders saw food insecurity impacting families in their town. Shortly after, a food pantry box was constructed with funding from Thrivent to create a free resource for all who needed it.

“Small towns have a lot of the same problems that big cities do. Even though this town is only 400 people, the food pantry is getting used a lot,” says Tim Miller, Zion Lutheran Food Pantry representative. 

In October 2024, it cost $300 to stock the pantry and organizers were concerned about raising funds to continue offering enough food for their community – until Kyle Miller called to let them know he’d chosen them to receive Compeer Financial’s $2,500 Giving Tuesday gift in Minnesota.

“It’s nice to give back to and help individuals this time of year, so I knew I wanted to choose the Zion Lutheran Food Pantry,” notes Kyle Miller, Giving Tuesday contest winner. “Being part of the local community, it’s important to me to support the food pantry.”

Jill and Tim Miller, Zion Lutheran Food Pantry representatives; Kyle Miller, Compeer Financial’s winner of the 2024 Giving Tuesday contest; Allison Strei and Joel Dorn, Compeer team members

In addition to the free food in the pantry box, the organization also hosts free meals at the church and delivers to homebound residents.

“These are just small ways we can help in our community and this donation from Compeer came at a perfect time. If we can help people thrive by providing some food for them, that would be our greatest gift to the people,” concludes Tim Miller.

“While Giving Tuesday is just one symbolic day of the year, supporting our local communities is something Compeer does almost every day,” says Karen Schieler, manager of Compeer Financial’s Fund for Rural America and Giving.

“Compeer gives back to the programs, projects and people that make a difference in agriculture and rural communities. It’s something that is important to us and our clients – who are oftentimes the people leading the way to keep rural America vital and thriving.”

After a month and a half, more than 5,700 people entered Compeer’s Giving Tuesday 2024 contest, which gave anyone in its three-state territory the chance to win the opportunity to designate a $2,500 donation to their favorite local organization. Entrants could select from four categories – FFA, 4-H, county fairs and food pantries – and three winners were chosen – one from each state in Compeer’s service area:

All four organization types had an outpouring of support and FFA programs saw an overwhelming response in all three states. Learn more about the organizations impacted at https://compeer.com/articles/donations-uplift-rural-communities-on-giving-tuesday?utm_source=FarmProgressPaulsen&utm_medium=IndustryVoice&utm_campaign=Brand

“Giving Tuesday empowers people to support causes and groups that are important to them. FFA, 4-H, county fairs and food pantries are at the core of what we support with the Fund for Rural America because they’re important to clients and our communities. Giving Tuesday is a heartwarming day at Compeer, ” notes Schieler.

On Giving Tuesday 2024, Compeer is matching up to $2,500 of donations to the FFA Foundations in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Compeer encourages readers to double down to help support the next generation of agricultural leaders and lay the groundwork for a more resilient future.

One percent of Compeer’s annual net earnings are allocated to the Fund, meaning $28.6 million has been reinvested in opportunities for rural residents and communities where its clients live.

Learn more about our Compeer’s Fund for Rural America and giving efforts at compeer.com/investing-in-rural-communities/giving-back.