Our History
A small group of local citizens from the Grand Island, NE area met to talk about the existence and reality of food shortages in their local community and several other locations throughout the world. The point in time was November, shortly before Thanksgiving, 1990. Devastating famines were then ravaging Ethiopia, Sudan and other African countries. At the same time there was a persistent shortage of grocery items on the shelves of the Grand Island Community Food Pantry. So dire was the case that a single food order was hard, if not impossible, to put together at times.

The group asked the Liederkranz, a local social club across the street from the newspaper, The Grand Island Daily Independent, if they could use their social hall for a week-end to hold various events in an attempt to collect non-perishable food items and also raise funds through bake sales, meals, and entertainment featuring talented singers, instrumentalists and dancers. Fonner Park, where thoroughbred horse racing and the Hall County Fair are held, opened their facility for an area-wide dance. Admission for the well-billed and heavily advertized event was $1.00, or a can of food for the food pantry. A local live band called "Smith and Jones," who normally charged $500-$600 to play for wedding dances, offered to provide the music gratuitously for the occasion. Numerous dance chaperones were recruited because many teenagers were anticipated to attend. Absolutely no one, except a number of loyal supporters, showed up. "And the band played on." Embarrassed by the no-show crowd, the leading guitar player was approached to offer an apology for the slim attendance. "Don’t feel bad," said Dan; "all of us are having a good time and, besides, we only play for the ones who come anyway."

That week-end $6,488.34 was raised for local and global efforts along with a pickup load of groceries for the Grand Island Community Food Pantry.

1991. Project Hunger incorporated with twelve Board of Directors members. 501 (c) (3) status granted Project Hunger, Inc., by the IRS. US Postal Service issues bulk-mailing permit to the organization. Project Hunger, Inc., begins publishing a quarterly newsletter.

1994. Monfort, a beef packing industry in Grand Island, NE starts complimenting all of the beef for Skagway Stores to process into one pound packages of hamburger to honor food vouchers issued by the GI Community Food Pantry. This program has remained in place as of this update in January, 2008. There were years when approximately 5,000 pounds of hamburger was processed and distributed because of the combined efforts from this generous act of kindness. The same beef packing industry was sold to Con Agra, and is presently owned by JBS Swift & Company.

1996. Project Hunger conducts first "Easter Basket Extravaganza" at the Grand Island Mall in Grand Island, NE

1998. Project Hunger's website first went on line. Project Hunger joins the Grand Island Area Chamber of Commerce.

1999. "Holiday Baskets" program first started at Thanksgiving time with fifty dinners distributed. Project Hunger starts "Third City Food Bucks" Program. $17,000.00 was raised in the first seven months of the program's existence. Toodles, the big-hearted giraffe originated in Grand Island, NE and begins to share her message on the web with the world.

2000. Project Hunger establishes its first office in the St. Stephen's Community Center in Grand Island, NE.

2001. First Project Hunger "Harvest Festival for World Hunger" conducted at Fonner Park in Grand Island, NE.

2002. First partial container packed with used clothing, shoes and medical supplies and sent off to Lithuania via Orphan Grain Train in Norfolk, NE

2006. "Harvest Festival for Hunger Awareness" holds November event at the Grand Generation Center in Grand Island, NE

2007. "The Gathering Table" conducts an entire year of continuously serving Sunday evening meals at the Salvation Army dining room in Grand Island, NE. The program was first started in October of 2006

2008. More than $500,000.00 has been raised since 1990 for all programs developed and established through the efforts of Project Hunger and with the Lord's blessings. This takes into account all actual funds received along with the many thousands of volunteer hours and in-kind services provided by countless Project Hunger advocates and supporters.

Our Mission
Organization
Opportunities To Help
Home Page