LINCOLN — In advance of Willie Nelson’s concert in Pinewood Bowl in Lincoln Saturday night, the Nebraska Farmers Union Foundation extends their heartfelt thanks to Farm Aid and Willie Nelson for their recent support of aid and assistance to rural Nebraskans impacted by floods and blizzards.
Vern Jantzen, Chairman of the Nebraska Rural Response Council that oversees the Nebraska Rural Response Hotline says “Willie Nelson and Farm Aid have provided $75,000 of funding support this year to the Hotline earmarked for rural Nebraskans impacted by the historic natural disasters. All $75,000 has been used to help farm and ranch families in need through $500 grants. Farm Aid funding has been a real life saver for rural families.”
John Hansen, Secretary of both the Nebraska Rural Response Council and the Nebraska Farmers Union Foundation added “When the Farm Aid funds were gone, Nebraska Farmers Union Foundation made a $20,000 grant to the Nebraska Rural Response Hotline so there are still flood and blizzard grant funds available at the Rural Response Hotline.” For grant applications, call the Hotline at: (800) 464-0258.
Vern Jantzen said “The need for disaster assistance continues. In addition to the natural disaster grants, the Hotline’s experienced and professional staff can help callers find the kind of assistance they need. Thanks to our partners at the Nebraska Department of Agriculture and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, the Hotline is able to provide a wide range of services from mental health counseling, bookkeeping, financial counseling, legal services, mediation programs, and food assistance. The Hotline is a resource for rural people in need. The floods and blizzard made an already tough financial position for many farm and ranch families worse.”
John Hansen added “In addition to stepping up with additional funding for the natural disasters this year, Willie Nelson and Farm Aid have been supporting the operation of the Nebraska Rural Response Hotline itself for 30 plus years. In 2019, Farm Aid provided $10,000 in base funding for the Hotline. Our unique Hotline is the longest continuously operating farm crisis hotline in the nation, first starting in 1984 in response in response to the ag crisis of the 1980’s. It is staffed by Legal Aid of Nebraska, administered by Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska, and is overseen by the Rural Response Council that is made up of members of the farm and faith community. This ‘Nebraska Nice’ Hotline is collaboration and cooperation at its best.”
Hansen concluded, “If you, a member of your family, a neighbor, or a friend need flood or financial assistance, call the Hotline at: (800) 464-0258. If you want to help support the Hotline, send your earmarked contribution to the NeFU Foundation at 1305 Plum Street, Lincoln, NE 68502. And of course you can support the Farm Aid concert that will be held Saturday, September 21st in East Troy, Wisconsin at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre.”
The Nebraska Farmers Union Foundation (NeFU Foundation) is a 501 C-3 tax deductible non-profit organization that provides a wide range of educational services to family farmers, ranchers, and their rural communities. NeFU Foundation partners with Nebraska Farmers Union who is a is a general farm organization with 3,500 farm and ranch family members dedicated to protecting and enhancing the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers and ranchers, and their rural communities. Since 1913, Nebraska Farmers Union has helped organize over 445 cooperatives.
— The Nebraska Farmers Union Foundation
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