FRESNO, Calif. – Sept. 17, 2026 – Recognizing the financial challenges many Central Valley families experience, Fresno Madera Farm Credit and CoBank have once again joined forces to donate $30,000 to Central California Food Bank's 13th Annual Feeding Families Fund Drive. With the additional 50% match from philanthropist GAR, the contribution will help provide more than 180,000 nutritious meals to residents of Central California who often face limited access to fresh, affordable food.

“For the past 13 years, Fresno Madera Farm Credit and CoBank have gone beyond financial support, engaging their employees and using their reach to help provide nutritious food to our neighbors throughout Central California,” said Kym Dildine, co-CEO, Central California Food Bank. “We are incredibly grateful for their continued partnership and investment in the Feeding Families Fund Drive and their commitment to ending hunger in our community.” The $30,000 donation, made possible through a matched contribution from CoBank, underscores Farm Credit's ongoing commitment to addressing hunger and supporting the well-being of families in the region.

“Partnerships like this are proof of what's possible when we come together to serve our neighbors,” said Claire Trudo, vice president at CoBank. “By teaming up with Fresno Madera Farm Credit, we're helping the food bank expand its reach so more families can access the nutritious food they need during these difficult times.” The donation coincides with the 13th Annual Feeding Families Fund Drive, which includes a 50% match from GAR for all community contributions throughout the month of September. As part of the effort, Fresno Madera Farm Credit and CoBank employees will volunteer at The Market grocery store on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, greeting shoppers and helping collect donations to fight hunger locally.

“Food insecurity exists in every county we serve, including the communities where our farmers and ranchers live and work,” said Fresno Madera Farm Credit CEO Keith Hesterberg. “We are proud to continue this long-standing partnership and to work alongside CoBank in support of Central California Food Bank, whose network gets nutritious food to the people who need it.”

Community members can join the effort by contributing to the Feeding Families Fund Drive at ccfoodbank.org/gar throughout September, where all gifts receive a 50% match from GAR.

About Fresno Madera Farm Credit:
Founded in 1917, Fresno Madera Farm Credit is a farmer-owned cooperative and a proud member of the national Farm Credit System. Located in one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world, FMFC provides credit and financial services to farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses that grow, process, and market over 350 commodities that are shipped all over the United States, and the world. For more information about FMFC, visit fmfarmcredit.com, and for more information about the Farm Credit System, visit www.farmcredit.com.

About CoBank:
CoBank is a cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 76,000 farmers, ranchers, and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country. CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture, rural infrastructure, and rural communities. Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S., and also maintains an international representative office in Singapore.

About Central California Food Bank:
Central California Food Bank (CCFB) is the region's largest nonprofit organization focused solely on ending hunger. CCFB has experienced tremendous growth since its beginning in 1992 and now serves at the center of a vast network of more than 260 member partners, including schools, churches, community kitchens and more to provide nutritious food to our neighbors in need throughout Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kings, and Kern Counties. Through our comprehensive hunger-relief programs and services, we distribute nearly 60 million pounds of food to families in need each year, serving over 320,000 people each month, including more than 100,000 children across our service area. This is indicative of the 1 in 4 adults and 1 in 3 children that face food insecurity in Central California.