The Story Behind the Amanda Sikes Memorial Food Drive

Honoring Amanda's Legacy by Helping Local Families

In September 2023, Amanda Sikes came to Farmers & Merchants Bank with an idea and a desire to help local families.

Through her involvement with Agape House, Amanda saw firsthand the generosity of our community. Individuals, churches, businesses, and organizations faithfully donated food to help keep the Agape House pantry stocked. But Amanda also recognized a need that wasn't always as visible.

The pantry needed shelf-stable staple items—the everyday ingredients that could be combined with donated foods to help turn them into complete meals for families.

Amanda wanted to find a way to raise money specifically to purchase those needed items. The food purchased through the drive is ordered locally through our St. Clair Save A Lot, helping keep those donated dollars right here in our community. Save A Lot has also supported the effort by providing discounts on select items whenever possible, while many pantry staples are already offered at very low, cost-conscious prices.

Just as importantly, she wanted the community to feel confident that every dollar donated would be used for its intended purpose.

She approached Farmers & Merchants Bank about administering a monetary food drive that would provide those checks and balances. Donations would be collected through FMB, the funds would be used to purchase food for the pantry, and 100% of the money donated would benefit Agape House.

And with that conversation, our annual Food Drive began.

Nearly $28,000—and Countless Meals Later

What started with Amanda's idea in 2023 quickly became something our entire community embraced.

Since that first drive, our community has generously contributed $27,989.32 to help purchase food for the Agape House pantry.

Those dollars represent much more than a fundraising total. They represent stocked pantry shelves, ingredients for meals and a little extra help for local families during times when they need it most.

They also represent what can happen when one person's idea is embraced by an entire community.

Continuing Amanda's Legacy

In December 2025, Amanda passed away suddenly, leaving behind a legacy that reaches far beyond this Food Drive.

Amanda gave. She served. She taught. She loved her family, her friends and her community—and she found ways to make the lives of those around her better.

This Food Drive was Amanda's dream, and we believe it should forever carry her name.

Beginning this year, the annual FMB Food Drive will be known as the Amanda Sikes Memorial Food Drive.

It is our way of remembering the woman who brought this idea to our door and ensuring that something she cared deeply about continues to serve our community for years to come.