Land O'Lakes Turns Vikings Points into Tons of Food for Families

ARDEN HILLS, MN – December 29, 2025 – As the Minnesota Vikings prepare for a pivotal showdown against their rivals, the Green Bay Packers, the stakes have been raised far beyond the gridiron. In a unique partnership aimed at combating local hunger, farmer-owned cooperative Land O'Lakes Dairy Foods has pledged to turn every point the Vikings score on January 4th into a substantial food donation for Minnesotans in need.

The initiative, titled "From the End Zone to the Dinner Table," will see the dairy food brand donate one ton of food to Second Harvest Heartland for each point the home team puts on the board, with a generous cap of up to 20 tons. This creative philanthropic effort leverages the region's passion for football to address a critical and growing issue, ensuring that the game's outcome will have a meaningful impact that resonates long after the final whistle.

"As a farmer-owned cooperative, supporting families and fighting hunger is at the heart of what we do," said Heather Anfang, president of Land O'Lakes Dairy Foods, in a statement. "With the upcoming Vikings' game on Jan. 4, we're turning points scored into a way to help local families access the food they need—making this game-day about more than just the score."

A Lifeline During Winter's Embrace

The timing of the donation is critical. The contribution is directed to Second Harvest Heartland, one of the nation's largest hunger relief organizations, at a time when demand for food assistance is reaching unprecedented levels across the state. Winter months traditionally place a heavy strain on household budgets, with increased heating and utility costs forcing many families to make difficult choices between staying warm and putting food on the table.

Recent data paints a stark picture of the challenge. A statewide study revealed that one in five Minnesota households currently experiences food insecurity, a rate higher than the national average. Food shelves across the state registered a record-breaking 9 million visits in 2024, a figure that underscores the escalating need exacerbated by the end of pandemic-era benefits and persistent inflation.

For organizations on the front lines, partnerships like this are invaluable not only for the resources they provide but also for the awareness they generate. "At Second Harvest Heartland, we believe when it comes to fighting hunger, we're all in this together," stated CEO Sarah Moberg. "At a time when many of our neighbors are turning to the hunger relief network for support, having partners like Land O'Lakes and the Minnesota Vikings come together in such a fun and meaningful way helps us shed more light on hunger and get more food to Minnesotans who need it."

A donation of up to 20 tons—equivalent to 40,000 pounds of food—represents a significant infusion of resources that can be quickly distributed to families through Second Harvest Heartland's extensive network of food shelves and community partners.

Beyond the Scoreboard: A Legacy of Giving

While the game-day pledge has captured public attention, it represents just one facet of Land O'Lakes' deep and long-standing commitment to hunger relief. The Arden Hills-based cooperative, founded in 1921 by 320 local dairy farmers, has woven community support into its corporate DNA.

This initiative builds upon a recent announcement from Land O'Lakes, Inc. of a $1 million investment in hunger-relief organizations. That contribution, distributed in December, provided grants to 15 Feeding America partner food banks in rural communities across the company's footprint, effectively doubling its 2025 hunger relief impact.

Furthermore, the company has operated its "First Run" program in partnership with Feeding America for over a decade. This unique program directs the first production runs of new products to food banks, ensuring that high-quality, freshly made dairy items reach those in need. Over the past 14 years, the First Run program has donated nearly 7.3 million pounds of product, including almost 300,000 pounds in the last year alone. The cooperative's 2023 Community Impact Report detailed a total contribution of $9.9 million to non-profits, demonstrating a consistent and scaled philanthropic strategy that goes far beyond single campaigns.

The Playbook for Modern Philanthropy

Tying charitable donations to athletic performance is an increasingly popular and effective strategy in corporate philanthropy. This model transforms a spectator sport into an interactive event for a cause, giving fans an additional reason to cheer for every successful field goal and touchdown. It creates a direct, emotional connection between the excitement of the game and the tangible benefit to the community.

The approach offers mutual benefits. For Land O'Lakes, it reinforces its brand identity as a community-focused, farmer-owned entity and generates positive public engagement. For Second Harvest Heartland, it brings invaluable visibility to the issue of food insecurity, leveraging the massive media platform of an NFL game to reach an audience that might not otherwise be engaged with hunger relief efforts.

While the variable nature of a points-based donation introduces an element of uncertainty, the 20-ton cap provides a crucial degree of predictability for the receiving organization. This allows Second Harvest Heartland to plan for a substantial donation while still benefiting from the public relations and engagement upside of the game-day challenge. As Vikings fans fill U.S. Bank Stadium or tune in from home on January 4th, they will be cheering not just for a victory over a historic rival, but for every point that helps nourish a neighbor in need.