Each loaded with approximately 40,000 pounds of food supplies donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, five semitrucks officially rolled out Thursday on a journey from Salt Lake City to food banks in Oregon, Michigan, Arkansas, Texas and Missouri.
These were the first five of 250 semitruck loads to deliver food donations to 250 food banks across the United States as part of the church’s participation in America250’s America Gives initiative — which will run through 2026 in celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary.
“As we mark this historic milestone, we hope to foster a spirit of unity, peacemaking and goodwill,” said Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in a meeting he had Thursday with Rosie Rios, chair of America250 and former U.S. Treasurer. “The anniversary is an opportunity for all to come together, serve together, and express gratitude for the freedoms that have allowed all faiths — including ours — to flourish.”
The first five semitrucks will arrive at their corresponding locations on Nov. 18-19 (see more details below). But these and following food donations are not the only way the church is participating in the giving initiative organized by America250, a nonpartisan congressional commission organizing celebrations to commemorate the United States’ semiquincentennial.
JustServe and FamilySearch will also participate in the initiative, according to a release on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
As a community service platform sponsored by the church, JustServe is collaborating with the giving initiative to make 2026 a record-setting year of volunteer service. FamilySearch, a genealogy nonprofit organization sponsored by the church, will also be joining the initiative in 2026 by highlighting family stories that helped shape the nation.
Church members in the United States are invited to join this “nationwide expression of unity and gratitude” through service opportunities listed on the America250 landing page on JustServe.org, as well as FamilySearch initiatives to be announced in coming months, according to the church’s release.
“This is truly a historic moment for all of us,” Rios said at a Thursday media event hosted by the church. “... Although technically, yes, we are celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, I think this is really, for me, a moment of unity, not just independence. It’s unity here in what the church is doing, what the church has always done, and what the church continues to do.”
America250 commissioner Cathy Gillespie added that the announcement of the first five semitruck loads is “more than just food donations. It is about inspiring a spirit of service that defines who we are as Americans.”
“More than 30 percent of all volunteer hours in the United States are generated by faith-based organizations,” she said. “Service can unite us. It invites people from every background to work side by side, regardless of political or religious views.”
More on the first trucks’ send-off
The food supplies loaded in each truck included a variety of canned fruits, vegetables and meats, as well as pasta, flour, pancake mix and dried milk. Most of these goods were produced by the Church of Jesus Christ and funded by church member donations.
The food supplies in these first five semitruck loads will be delivered to the following United States’ cities and food banks:
- Eugene, Oregon: Food for Lane County; to arrive Nov. 18.
- Lonoke, Arkansas: Family Resource Services, Arkansas; to arrive Nov. 19.
- Columbia, Missouri: Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri; to arrive Nov. 19.
- Texas City, Texas: Galveston County Food Bank; to arrive Nov. 19.
- Grand Blanc, Michigan. Fish of Grand Blanc food pantry; to arrive Nov. 19.
The food supplies to arrive in Grand Blanc, Michigan, were sent “in gratitude for the generous support given” to church members by the state and city’s residents following the shooting and fire that took place at a local church meetinghouse.
Of the food donations, Rios said she recognizes the significance of such service firsthand.
“As a product of someone who grew up on the charity of my church, as someone who grew up as the product of someone who might have received this generous food bank donation, it means everything to me,” she said. “If my mom were here, she would recognize that as well — how important our church communities are to the fabric of our country and to me personally.”
