Thanks to the incredible generosity of members like you, last year’s POWER THE PANTRY campaign raised a record-breaking $110,287 in food and monetary donations for a dozen local food banks.
This year, we're proud to kick-start our 2025 campaign with another $50,000 donation — and our WEC team is working to DOUBLE that amount through our annual charity golf tournament, the Great Bend Schools Competition (Oct. 21–31), online fundraising, and continued support from members like you!
Since 2014, our cooperative has helped collect more than 214 tons of food — over 427,000 pounds — demonstrating our shared commitment to CONCERN FOR COMMUNITY, the seventh cooperative principle. Though our campaign has grown and changed over the years, our goal remains the same: supporting our neighbors in need!
Every dollar donated makes a real impact — and enters you to WIN prizes while giving back.
Click to learn more about this year’s big giveaway (four tickets to the Sunflower Showdown!) and how you can donate.
You can also make a cash or check donation in person at any local WEC office now through Oct. 9 to enter to win our grand prize!
Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for making a meaningful difference in your community and lending a hand to those who need it most.
#1 — 1 in 8 Neighbors Are Food Insecure
In western Kansas, one in eight adults and one in six children face food insecurity daily — that’s over 23,000 Kansans who don’t have reliable access to nutritious food.
#2 — Cash Donations Stretch Further
Local food pantries can purchase food at wholesale prices and rescue food from retailers, making every dollar go further than individual food donations.
#3 — Support for Rural Communities
Nearly 30% of Kansas counties are food deserts, according to the Kansas Health Foundation. Your donation helps locals overcome geographic and transportation barriers to access needed food.
#4 — Fresh Food, Not Just Shelf-Stable
Cash can help fund cold storage — sometimes through partnerships with local grocers — enabling some food bank patrons to access produce, dairy, or meat, some of the most expensive and needed items for families.
#5 — Assisting Our Seniors
For many seniors, living on a fixed income means making impossible choices — paying for medication, keeping the lights on, or buying groceries. By donating to your local food pantry, you’re helping those individuals who are often most vulnerable to economic downturns and other crises.
#6 — Rising Food Costs
With grocery prices climbing, families are struggling — and food banks are feeling the strain. More resources are needed to keep shelves stocked and to ensure that everyone has access to the food they need to stay healthy and strong.
#7 — Because No Child Should Go to Bed Hungry
One in six kids across western Kansas doesn’t know where their next meal will come from. Your support helps stock local pantries and ensures no child goes to bed hungry. You’re not just providing food — you’re giving kids the energy to learn, grow and dream.
#8 — Because Hunger Doesn’t Always Look Like Hunger
Food insecurity affects people from all walks of life — including working families, veterans and seniors who’ve spent their lives contributing to their communities. Nearly 47% of households served by Kansas food pantries have at least one working adult, and 12% include a veteran. Your donation helps ensure that pride and circumstance don’t stand in the way of a healthy meal.
#9 — Because Resilience Needs Fuel
In Kansas, families are resilient — they work hard, weather tough seasons and support one another. But resilience alone doesn’t put food on the table. With local pantries seeing demand double from one month to the next, your donation provides the steady support that helps families get through hard times with dignity and hope.
#10 — Hope at Every Table
Nearly half of food pantry clients earn less than $15,000 a year. Many must choose between food and utilities (42%), food and medical care (34%), or food and housing (8%), according to the Kansas Food Bank. Your donation helps ease these impossible decisions, and delivers more than just food — it delivers hope.
