River Bend Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry
John Deere Classic
By: Shauna Matteson

On July 7, 2010 the PGA TOUR Wives Association partnered with the River Bend Food Bank, Birdies for Charity, and the John Deere Foundation to put on a very special event.

It all came about when our organization decided to give back to the John Deere Classic because of how wonderful they are to all of us. After some brainstorming, it was very apparent that our donation would go to the River Bend Food Bank’s Mobile Food Pantry for the aid in hunger relief. The $2,000 donation will provide several weeks worth of food to 200 families, and the retail value is almost $20,000! So 14 wives and one of their 6-year-old sons rode on a big bus and met up with the Mobile Food Pantry at a local church in Silvis, IL, not far from the John Deere Classic.

It was about 10:30 a.m. when we arrived, and we were delighted to see that there was already a line forming for individuals to get much needed food supplies. So our ladies quickly jumped in to organize the tables and unpack the truck. By 11:00 a.m., the food was ready for the clients and so were we! It was hot and humid outside, but none of that mattered because the PGA TOUR Wives were helping fill baskets, boxes, and shopping carts of food for some very happy people. Children were eagerly helping their parents and grandparents fill the carts with the food, and the recipients seemed very grateful. After all was said and done, it was estimated that 12,000 pounds of food had been distributed!

The Mobile Food Pantry was designed to help get food out to the rural areas of the Quad Cities. In most cases, the food being distributed is going to families that are working and need some extra assistance to make ends meet.

At 1:00 p.m. the event was over and it left the PGA TOUR Wives feeling like we had truly made an immediate difference in many families’ lives. 

A special thanks goes out to the incredible staff from the John Deere Classic. Birdies for Charity also donated an additional 5% bonus on top of our $2,000 donation.