Willie Nelson & Farm Aid Help Flood Victims

As massive flooding continues to ravage parts of the Midwest, Farm Aid is reaching out to family farmers in towns along the Mississippi and other rivers.

Country singer turned activist and Farm Aid president and founder Willie Nelson activated the Family Farm Disaster Fund to get immediate relief to family farmers in Iowa, Wisconsin and across the Midwest.

Nelson is set to deliver the first grant from the Family Farm Disaster Fund on Saturday to the Iowa Grassroots Coalition, a group of farm and faith-based organizations in Iowa working on the recovery effort.

"Our hearts go out to the folks all along the Mississippi who are being

affected by the severe floods that have taken out towns and farms in Iowa and Wisconsin," Nelson said on Friday. "At Farm Aid, we have had friends in these communities for 23 years who can deliver immediate support to family farmers, getting them back on the land, growing good food for all of us."

Farm Aid emergency assistance is supporting local recovery efforts in Iowa and Wisconsin, delivering an initial $10,000 in disaster-relief funds to grassroots organizations.

Since the Family Farm Disaster Fund was activated on Wednesday, more than $40,000 has already been donated by individuals and organizations, including Best Buy and WhiteWave.

"In the face of the devastation caused by the flooding across the Midwest, Farm Aid is proud to work with the individuals and organizations that have already stepped up and shown their support for family farmers," said Farm Aid Executive Director Carolyn Mugar. "Together, we will help these farmers rebuild and protect our source of good food."