Beginning Aug. 1, Texas farmers will have the opportunity to partner with America’s Farmers Grow Communities to award more than $3.3 million to community nonprofits across the country. In Texas, 81 organizations will receive donations in 2016.
The program, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, serves to make a positive impact in rural communities by giving farmers a chance to direct $2,500 donations to eligible nonprofit organizations of their choice, according to a recent news release.
Last year, Floyd County farmer James Hinton donated $2,500 to the Rural Nurse Resource Inc. in Floydada through the program to support a scholarship to one registered nurse and one health advocate from Floyd County to attend a Foundation of Faith Community Nursing/Health Advocate course offered by Rural Nurse Resource.
Previous donations have also gone toward equipment and training for rural fire departments, sending FFA and 4-H groups to contests and conventions, supplying food pantries, and boosting agriculture curriculum in rural school districts.
Deborah Patterson, Monsanto Fund president, said more than 7,000 nonprofit organizations have received donations through Grow Communities in the past five years.
Texas farmers can enroll in the program and find a complete list of program rules and eligibility information here or by calling 877-267-3332. Program winners will be announced in January.