It’s here that the remarkable service of State Farm shines. Bringing the largest disaster response in the industry means a coordinated effort of people, technology and resources, all working together to provide exceptional service to policyholders and support to the community.

State Farm is there

State Farm Claims specialists assist customers at Louisiana Customer Care sites

In addition to thousands of employees remotely helping thousands of customers on the phone and online, State Farm claims operations are on site, day after day, helping policyholders in impacted areas.

In support of Ida response, State Farm set up seven mobile Customer Care sites – four in Louisiana and three in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. These operations bring claims teams and customers together to inspect vehicles, help with questions, and disburse payments.

Over the last two weeks, more than 1,500 customers have been given in-person help at our Louisiana Customer Care sites. So far, our overall claims operations have been able to reach more than 90% of customers who have filed a homeowner claim related to Ida, with 1 in 4 of those claims already settled.

Neighbors helping neighbors

A big part of the State Farm difference is the 19,000 State Farm agents who live and work in the same communities as our policyholders. That means that in addition to access by phone, app, and web site, State Farm customers have a State Farm agent right there in the neighborhood, ready to talk through your hopes, plans, and needs. And when disaster happens, they are neighbors ready to help.

In the wake of Ida, State Farm agents reached out to customers in impacted areas to help the recovery process.

Agent Courtney Gulledge of Harahan, La., lived up to that promise when one of her policyholders, Tassanee Nirandorn, received severe damage to his home. Courtney used draft authority, which allows agents to directly disburse payment toward the settlement of a claim. By providing an advance on claim payments, we can help customers start the process of recovery. Nirandorn was pleased with this service, saying, “On the news, all I have heard is that insurance companies are a pain to deal with, but that has not been my experience. State Farm has been exceptional during this process.”

Supporting the larger community

In addition to helping policyholders recover from the unexpected, State Farm has used its philanthropic resources to support community organizations that are helping the recovery process.

State Farm has issued $900,000 in disaster-relief grants to community organizations in Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, plus a $10,000 grant to the Midwest Food Bank in Illinois to provide support to multiple Ida-impacted areas.

Louisiana:

• $400,000 to support the local Red Cross chapter of Southeast Louisiana
• $150,000 to support Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans
• $100,000 to support Northshore Community Foundation
• $100,000 to support The Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma – Thibodaux

Northeast:

• $50,000 to support American Red Cross New Jersey Region
• $50,000 to support American Red Cross Greater New York Region
• $25,000 to support American Red Cross Southeastern Philadelphia Region
• $25,000 to support the Philabundance organization

“In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, we are truly proud to work alongside partners such as State Farm who have raised their hand to support thousands of families impacted by this devastating storm,” said Lindsay Mathieson, regional disaster officer of the American Red Cross of Louisiana. “It is that generous support that allows us to provide much-needed comfort and care to help the people who need it most.”

Said Natalie Jayroe, Second Harvest Food Bank President and CEO, “This major support from State Farm will be critical to our response to this latest disaster impacting South Louisiana. Our deepest thanks go out to the entire State Farm team and their customers.”

The work continues

Recovering from a disaster like Hurricane Ida will take time. State Farm claims operations will continue the work of serving impacted policyholders in the weeks and months ahead. More than 98,000 total claims have been received so far for Hurricane Ida-related damage, and every one of those claims is a life changed by this storm.

Being a good neighbor is about more than just one moment or just one act. For State Farm, it means continuing the work until every last claim has been handled and finding ways to help our communities thrive. When the unexpected happens, State Farm is there to help policyholders and communities recover.

Food pantries have long known the impact peanut butter can have. It's a prized addition to their shelves.

For the past three years, State Farm employees have stepped up to help meet that need. In February, more than 33,500 pounds of peanut butter were donated at our hubs and operations centers. The total surpassed last year’s total by more than 10,000 pounds.

Local organizations in several locations across the country received donations in early March.

Not too long after, COVID-19 shuttered our offices and much of the country. Now, with resources scarce and more people than ever relying food banks, the peanut butter will make an even bigger impact.

Ashley Edling is the Food Panty volunteer and programs manager for the Network of Community Ministries in Dallas. It’s one of 13 agencies that received peanut butter from this year’s drive.

“Shelf stable items like peanut butter provide a lasting effect. We can distribute it to families for weeks after the initial donation," Ashley said.

Some of the Atlanta Hub employees’ donation went to Georgia State University’s food pantry. Many in the university’s student population face unique challenges including food insecurity. There State Farm LIFT Scholars, who receive scholarship support from State Farm, helped stock the pantry’s shelves.

“Philanthropy can have an amplifying effect. The peanut butter donation allowed our LIFT Scholars to give back and support others facing difficult circumstances,” said Heath Wood, Senior Director Corporate and Foundation Relations, Georgia State University.

“It showed them the resources, education, and attitude necessary to succeed in the face of the challenges they’ll face in life.”

Peanut Butter Drive Highlights:

• Phoenix Hub employees collected 10,526 pounds of peanut butter. It was donated to Midwest Food Bank, United Food Bank and St. Mary’s Food Bank.
• Atlanta employees collected and donated 7,255 pounds of peanut butter. It went to the Midwest Food Bank of Georgia and the Georgia State University Panther Pantry.
• Employees from the Bloomington campus collected 6,313 pounds of peanut butter that went to the Midwest Food Bank of Bloomington-Normal.
• In Dallas, 8,467 pounds of peanut butter was donated to the Network of Community Ministries’ food pantry and the Richland College and the UT Dallas campus food pantries.
• State Farm Operations Centers in Austin, Charlottesville, Lincoln, and Newark collected over 1,021 pounds of peanut butter for their local food banks.

By providing support to Goodr, an Atlanta-based social impact startup leveraging technology to reduce food waste and end hunger, senior citizens and low-income students who rely on subsidized school meals will have access to five pop-up grocery stores in underserved communities throughout Atlanta.

In collaboration with the Atlanta Department of Recreation, Goodr, founded by social entrepreneur Jasmine Crowe, is adapting its normal operations to comply with CDC guidelines recommending social distancing and avoidance of large gatherings. Using a drive/walk-through system to distribute the food, three of the five pop-up grocery stores will be at State Farm Good Neighbor Clubs, dedicated educational and entertainment centers, or basketball courts renovated through the Hawks Foundation.

“This is the third time Jasmine and her team at Goodr has provided the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm with a platform and a means to help our more vulnerable neighbors during a critical time of need,” said State Farm AVP – Human Resources Clarence Hearns. “In the weeks to come, we hope what is shared at these free pop-up grocery stores will be a source of nourishment as well as give the families a sense of reassurance in community.”

Each pop-up grocery store is expected to serve 300 to 600 families with two weeks of groceries, including fresh produce, shelf-stable items and meats.

“In this unprecedented time filled with uncertainty for so many, we are honored to partner with Jasmine and support her team at Goodr,” Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena CEO Steve Koonin said. “They are providing a tremendous vehicle to truly help our fellow Atlantans, providing the comfort of knowing where their next meals are coming from.”

LIFT Scholars stock GSU food pantry

Also in Atlanta, State Farm LIFT Scholars stocked a Georgia State University campus food pantry with more than 1,000 jars of peanut butter donated by State Farm employees. The State Farm Education Assist^® program offers 50 scholarships per year and other assistance to Georgia State students.

“State Farm’s support is an amazing example of the way that philanthropy can have an amplifying effect,” said Heath Wood, senior director of Corporate and Foundation Relations for Georgia State. “The LIFT Scholars receiving scholarship support from State Farm are paying that generosity forward by giving back to the community to support others facing difficult circumstances.”

Jamie is entering the ring with Farm Bureau Financial Services Agent Derrick Hodam to encourage more donations to the nonprofit that fills the shelves of seven local food banks in the Topeka area.

“Every year, Project Topeka does a February food drive launch because the shelves are depleted after the holidays,” Jamie, who is the food drive campaign chair for Project Topeka, says. “They were looking at doing things differently this year and wanted someone to be a community cheerleader. That’s where I come in.”

Jamie brainstormed how she could make the food drive bigger and better. What better way to do that than turn it into a competition? Insurance agent versus insurance agent.

“Let’s put our competitor right up there next to us,” Jamie says. “Why not? It benefits the local economy. We employ people in the community, sponsor local Little League teams and promote food drives. What could we do to bring more to Project Topeka?” she asks. “Let’s do something funny and fun. I wanted to do an agent face-off – Farm vs. Farm. Two community members. It all came together perfectly.”

Her rival, Derrick, was on-board from the start. The two agents made a video promoting the face-off. Imagine this: two insurance agents getting ready to rumble, throwing it all down for a chance to win the glory of donating the most food and money to Project Topeka.

“The more reach we can get, the more we can educate on hunger and how it affects children and the elderly,” Jamie says. “We all win, and that’s important. If somebody calls me about insurance because of the video, that’s a win for me, too, but not the goal.”

At the food drive kickoff event, Jamie began by talking about the barrels located in the community to drop off food. Then she pretended the two agents didn’t have the whole competition planned and called Derrick out in front of everyone.

“I said, ‘Aren’t you an insurance agent for the Farm Bureau? Derrick, I’m going to call you out.’ People in the audience gasped, and then we played the video and everyone started laughing,” Jamie says.

Jamie likes having fun, but she likes promoting good causes even more.

“I want to do these things in our community because it makes my heart happy. Being out there and helping the community helps me become better known as an agent, too,” she says. “Being involved in local nonprofits is a way to have an impact. We like to win, have fun and be involved. I like being part of this community.”

Jamie and Derrick are going into Round Two of their battle, which will end April 30.

“Peanut butter can be expensive for food banks and food pantries to purchase yet it’s a power house of nutrition,” said, Tara Ingham, Executive Director for the Midwest Food Bank, “Especially in times of disaster relief it’s convenient, doesn’t take much preparation – and it packs a ton of nutrition.”

According to the National Peanut Board, a two tablespoon serving of the nutty spread packs seven grams of protein and more than 30 essential vitamins and minerals. With an average cost of 16 cents per serving, peanut butter makes a nutrient-rich addition to breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

That’s why State Farm employees across the U.S. united to help stock food pantry shelves. In less than one month, they collected more than 18,000 jars of peanut butter, totaling more than 21,000 pounds. The donations were distributed to food pantries across the country.

Catrena Smith, an Illinois employee, worked with her department to collect more than 100 jars.

“This peanut butter drive is a wonderful opportunity to contribute and give together as a team,” said Smith. “It’s amazing to know our collective effort at State Farm will help feed many.”

Looking for ways to get involved in your community? Whether it’s giving a jar of peanut butter, or giving your time to a local organization - the State Farm Neighborhood of Good® can help. Visit www.NeighborhoodofGood.com® to find causes that matter to you – right in your neighborhood.

On top of it all, Jeni manages to volunteer weekly at a local food bank. “I love being here,” she smiled. “It gives me purpose.”

From its sky-high shelves stocked with breads, grains and beans, to coolers of milk, cheese and juice, some might say this place, called Midwest Food Bank looks like a mega supermarket.

But the food here is donated. There are no cashiers and checkout aisles. Instead, you’ll find volunteers. Lots of them.

Each week they give their time and talent to help people in need. They sort and distribute donations. They laugh and form friendships.

“I love organizing the shipments of food we receive,” Jeni smiled. “Semi-trucks deliver the items and each box is a mystery. Opening them is like unwrapping a gift!”

While these boxes don’t come in pretty paper or fancy bows, it’s the items inside that make eyes light up and lift spirits.

“This food does more than prevent hunger. It lets people know they’ll be okay,” said Jeni. “It lets them know others care and are there to help.”

Sometimes the boxes contain rice, or grapes, or lettuce. Sometimes they’re filled with medicine or shoes. And once in while…they contain something a little sweeter.

“Once, we received bags of mini-marshmallows…like the kind you find in kids’ cereal,” Jeni explained. “And while we can’t just give mini-marshmallows to those in need, we can combine them with other items – like veggies, fruit, and yogurt for more balanced meals. We’re grateful for what we get.”

Bill Curtis, a longtime Midwest Food Bank volunteer agrees. “It amazes me how many hungry people are out there. When you work here…you know you’re making a difference. We even started a food bank in Kenya to help communities near and far.”

But beyond the food and fellowship found within these walls, Jeni says you’ll find something else too.

HOPE.

Most feel it the moment they walk through the doors.

“You see hope in the faces of children and families who come here for assistance,” Jeni explained. “You see it radiate from our volunteers – in their energy and enthusiasm.”

Jeni herself understands the impact of hope and a helping hand. Six years ago she fell on hard times, in need of both food and shelter for her family.

With the assistance of not-for-profit organizations and charities (many of which receive supplies from Midwest Food Bank), Jeni managed to rebuild her life. She regained independence and started a new chapter for herself and her sons.

“Those were incredibly tough times,” she said softly. “But we didn’t give up. We survived because help was there, and I am so grateful.”

Today, Jeni continues to pay it forward at Midwest Food Bank because she knows, through help and hope…comes healing. “Now that my boys are old enough, I bring them to volunteer and they love it,” she smiled. “It’s our turn to give back.”

And, through the support of businesses like State Farm – Midwest Food Bank will continue to nourish neighbors near and far.

STORY UPDATE: Effective January 2018, Jeni is now the Operations Manager at Midwest Food Bank. She says hope comes in many forms. Sometimes it's a smile. Or a box of mini-marshmallows. Or a new pair of shoes. But no matter the way in which it's received, care and love are the end result. 

"Creating good in this world...is priceless," said Jeni. 

To find volunteer opportunities in your community, visit NeighborhoodofGood.com®.

(This story was first published November 2016)