Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana

As Indiana's leading hunger-relief organization, Gleaners sources and distributes Food, both purchased and rescued, to hungry hoosiers in our 21-county service area. In addition, gleaner'Gleaners's operates fresh connect central, a produce distribution co-op that secures perishable Food for foodbanks in 9 midwest states.

Since the covid-19 pandemic began in march 2020, Food insecurity has risen dramatically around the globe. Gleaners' 21-county service area is no different. Programs and services have had to adjust to accommodate both increased need and the realities of serving in a time of social distancing. Feeding america estimates over 378,000 hoosiers are dealing with Food insecurity in our service area. Even more concerning, nearly 1 in 4 children are faced with hunger. Our programs focus on feeding families healthy, nutritious Food, including fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meat and protein, dairy, and shelf-stable options that can be used to create meals. Mobile pantries, school-based pantries, and a growing network of agency partners and community centers join together to meet the growing need. Programs focused on nutrition, including summer nutrition club for kids, cooking matters and nutritionhub.org are geared toward improving the overall health of those we serve. Snap outreach, including a snap hotline, assist clients with application and qualifications for financial assistance for Food purchases. Our ultimate goal is to provide Food for today and hope for tomorrow, offering those who are ready a hand up to a path of self-sufficiency.