High inflation leaves food banks struggling to meet needs
Food banks across America say negative economic conditions are intensifying demand for their support at a time when their labor and distribution costs are climbing and donations are slowing.
Food banks
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IBJ Podcast: The ambitious plan to end hunger in central Indiana
Podcast host Mason King talks with Margie Craft, a senior adviser at Elanco Animal Health who is leading Food Secure Indy, a coalition of companies, public officials and not-for-profit groups that want to coordinate hunger-relief efforts.
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High-profile coalition is taking aim at food insecurity
A group of prominent corporate, not-for-profit and government organizations is launching perhaps the most ambitious food-relief and sustainability program here in years.
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Challenge of helping hungry families has snowballed during pandemic, panelists say
The complexity of addressing food insecurity in central Indiana has grown since March, according to experts at IBJ’s “Hunger & Health” event on Friday.
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Articles
Gleaners plans incubator for new ideas in hunger relief
Gleaners Food Bank’s board is working to create a campus master plan and vet ideas for an entrepreneurial incubator next to the nonprofit’s warehouse at 3737 Waldemere Ave.
Q&A with Brooke Blevins, a Butler student trying to make sure her classmates have enough food
Blevins, who expects to graduate in May with a degree in human connection and organizational leadership, helped launch Butler’s student food pantry, which began distributing food in early March.
Gleaners beefing up refrigerated space in $3.2M expansion project
The state’s largest hunger-relief organization has in recent years dramatically increased the amount of produce, dairy products, lean meats and other perishables it provides.
Home gardeners can help the hungry by donating some harvest
The nation’s overburdened food pantries tend to only have access to canned fruits and vegetables. But call before dropping off your fresh produce.
Tight job market puts not-for-profits to test
Some local entities have increased their attention on retaining existing staff, encouraging volunteers to move into paid positions and expanding their searches when jobs become available by targeting recent graduates or community clubs or schools.
New Gleaners boss flush with ideas
John Elliott, who took over as CEO and president of the state’s largest food bank in September, has spent the last four months focused on opening the not-for-profit to new ideas that could lead to feeding more people on fewer dollars.
Hunger-relief agencies report decline in year-end giving
Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana reported seeing a 10 percent to 15 percent decrease in donations for the year compared to last year, and Second Helpings said it had only hit 50 percent of its goal for monthly donations, as of Monday.
Hubert to retire as CEO of Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana
Kroger Co. executive John Elliott has been approved to succeed Cindy Hubert by Gleaners' board of directors.
Pence’s favored food bank plays up faith
One of Gov. Mike Pence’s favorite charities is Midwest Food Bank, a faith-based alternative to Gleaners, the region’s dominant player in hunger relief.
Anti-hunger groups tap Six Sigma gurus for guidance
Members of the Indy Hunger Network knew it would take discipline when they set the goal of feeding 185 million meals every year—27 million more than they do now—by 2015.
City bans bulk land-bank sales after lopsided deal with not-for-profit
Indianapolis last year sold 154 properties from its land bank for $1,000 each to a novice not-for-profit, which immediately flipped them for a total $500,000 profit. More than a dozen have changed hands multiple times since then, making investors more than $1 million. (with interactive map)
Activist trying to fill gaps in hunger-relief system
Hunger-fighting charities hope to tap volunteers and resources for special projects through a new entity, the Indy Hunger Network.
Blueprint: Churches, charities shouldn’t feed the homeless
“Blueprint 2” calls on well-meaning church and charity groups to stop delivering food directly to homeless camps. Professional outreach teams report that this enables people who may have addictions or mental health problems to continue living outside.
Urban farm to provide produce for needy families
Gleaners Food Bank, Indiana University Health, the city of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Parks Foundation announced Wednesday they're teaming up on the project called Indy Urban Acres.
Grant to help Gleaners distribute more perishables
Gleaners Food Bank plans to buy a refrigerated truck to supply more fresh produce, dairy and meat to central Indiana pantries, thanks to a $50,000 grant from Kraft Foods.
Gleaners Food Bank names new CEO
After a national search, Cindy Hubert, CEO of Indianapolis-based Second Helpings, will take the reins from longtime Gleaners leader Pamela Altmeyer in November.
LEADING QUESTIONS: Gleaners chief gets wake-up call
CEO Pamela Altmeyer reevaluated her priorities
and decided to step down after a family tragedy and the agency's latest capital campaign.
Gleaners CEO to step down after nearly 30 years
The 63-year-old head of the central Indiana food bank plans to leave after a nationwide search for her successor. She departs
as the group ramps up plans to move into a new headquarters.
Interfaith Hunger Initiative hopes Dalai Lama draws crowd
The group hopes to raise as much as $100,000 in conjunction with May 14 talk at Conseco Fieldhouse.