Food Insecurity

Rick Carlisle: When I came back to coach the Pacers in the summer of 2021, I was interested in having some kind of charity that was specific to the needs of Indianapolis, Marion County and the state. It took awhile to come up with this idea, but we’ve been full force on this for two years and we’re headed into our third year, and it’s been very successful. We’ve raised over $500,000 toward this each year. What we’ve learned is that it’s not that there’s a shortage of food. It’s a logistics problem. It’s all about logistics and access. Through Nine13 logistics, Gleaners and the  Pacers Foundation, we’ve been very, very successful.

Fred Glass: The Pacers Foundation and the Simon family have been civic and philanthropic leaders for decades. The organization took this leadership to the next level, launching Drive & Dish, an initiative that addresses food insecurity by delivering fresh produce, through Gleaners, to Hoosiers facing hunger. This year, we expanded that effort to include access to a variety of other nutritious foods through our Gleaners2Go platform. Groceries items—iincluding fresh produce, protein, and dairy items—are chosen by our neighbors to meet the needs of their individual families.

I also want to note the life’s work of Jim Morris, former vice chairman for Pacers Sports and Entertainment. He no doubt influenced this focus on food insecurity. Jim was a long-time supporter of Gleaners and a pillar of the community. Coach Carlisle has also been personally invested in Drive & Dish and the belief that everyone should have the healthy, nutritious food they need to thrive.

Fred Glass: The Pacers name and reputation naturally bring people together, and developing the strategic partnerships and funding for a program like this requires a convener. The Pacers Foundation has not only provided critical funding but also helped to bring together key community organizations, including Gleaners and Indy Parks, to make this a reality.

They are not just funding the program. They are integrally involved in discussions about when and how to expand and how to add additional value to neighbors receiving food through the program, whether it be reusable shopping bags or cooking classes.

With their goal of expansion to a statewide initiative, having the Pacers name behind the program opens doors and immediately brings a high profile to the work. They are great partners.

Rick Carlisle: The Pacers Foundation supports this and has put in $50,000 each year. And we’re using access to the Pacers Foundation website as a means to raise money in an ancillary fashion. This is really about doing something meaningful in the community with an important connection to the Pacers. I put in $100,000 each year. Steve Simon puts in $100,000. Klay South, who runs disaster relief company USA Up Star, puts in a bunch. Steve Smitherman, president of the Midwest region of CareSource, put in $50,000 this year, which was a huge help. After our first year, Pacers owner Herb Simon and minority owner Steve Rales put up $10 million so this program can continue in perpetuity. Their support is enormously important. It’s been a lot of fun putting it together and seeing how appreciative people in the community have been. Corey Wilson, executive director of the Pacers Foundation, has also been instrumental in making this a success.

Rick Carlisle: Gleaners is the major food source, and that’s a phenomenal operation. I was over there seeing it for the first time. It’s amazing what they do and the volume that they do it at. In the first year we had two distribution places, Christamore House and the Edna Martin Christian Center. This year we expanded it to a third. The main thing is that people know where and when the food is available. Now we need partners in the communities we’re expanding to—Bloomington/Monroe County, Terre Haute/Vigo County, and Muncie/Delaware County. 

Fred Glass: Drive & Dish began in Indianapolis in January 2024 as a collaborative effort to combat food insecurity and health disparities in underserved communities. It was created and spearheaded by Coach Carlisle and aimed to deliver fresh produce, eggs, and healthy recipes to families in need.

As the program expands, our sister food banks throughout the state will have the opportunity to work with the Pacers Foundation to develop the type of collaborative partnerships that work in their unique communities. The challenge is that each community is different, so finding those partners and gathering places is critical. In Indianapolis, we have found Indy Parks, which works quite well. In other communities, it may be libraries, schools, or other community spaces that are accessible to people facing hunger.

Fred Glass: The program will need the support of the other food banks serving Indiana, ongoing financial resources, and community partners who are passionate about engaging with us to ensure that all Hoosiers have access to the healthy, nutritious food they need to thrive.

Rick Carlisle: The continued support of Gleaners and Nine13 Logistics is essential to this effort. We’re looking to grow it and increase the number of people who are served. So we need financial support. We need to grow that to continue to grow this effort. If you go to Pacers Foundation at Pacers.com, there’s a link there to donate.

Rick Carlisle: I don’t know about the latest trends, but I know food insecurity affects 25 percent to 30 percent of all residents in Marion County. That’s significant. No one should have to deal with that.

Fred Glass: Food insecurity has been on the rise nationwide, not just in Indiana, due to a combination of economic challenges, policy changes, and systemic issues. We all see how food costs have gone up in recent years, and while inflation has slowed, costs remain significantly higher than they were before the pandemic.

Indianapolis was the top market for rent increases in 2023, and approximately one quarter of Indianapolis renters spend more than 50% of their income on rent.

While unemployment is low, wages are also low, making it difficult for many working families to afford basic necessities, including food.

While we may feel like we have the COVID-19 pandemic in the rearview mirror, the effects of that pandemic and the economic turmoil are still all too present, particularly for low-income families. Community-based initiatives such as Drive & Dish can help alleviate some of the pressure faced by working Hoosiers and help place them on a path of economic mobility.

Fred Glass: I think we’ve reaffirmed what we already knew. There is food available—73 billion pounds of food are wasted each year in the United States—and that we need collaborative partners to help us find that food and get it to the people who need it, when and where they need it. Programs like Drive & Dish that help take on that last mile of delivery, making sure the food gets directly into the hands of the people who need it, is the way forward to ensure that everyone has the food they need to be nourished and to live life to its fullest potential.

Rick Carlisle: One thing I’ve learned about the state of Indiana in my three times coaching here, is that Indiana is a state where people take a great deal of pride in getting things done. When it comes to helping your neighbor and helping people in need, there’s no greater spirit of help than in this city and this state.