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FIGHTING FOOD INSECURITY IN NORTHWEST INDIANA

Food for today. Hope for tomorrow.

We work every day by helping our neighbors gain access to healthy, nutritious food while also advancing innovative solutions that address the root causes of hunger.

who we are.

We need your help.
Others do too.

Hunger is what you feel when you don’t have enough to eat. Food insecurity is the set of circumstances that prevent your access to nutritious food. We collaborate with our community to build a resilient, healthier, and economically sound community.

1 in 7

Northwest Indiana residents are experiencing food insecurity

9 million

Your Food Bank distributed approximately 9 million pounds of food in 2024

“

Together, we have the power to transform lives by ensuring that no one in our community goes hungry.”

Victor A. Garcia

PRESIDENT & CEO

Some of Our Programs

FREE GROCERY PARTNERS

Need help putting food on the table? Visit one of our free grocery partners in Lake or Porter counties.

FIND A PARTNER

ORDER AHEAD LOCKERS

Learn more about our automated smart lockers in Northwest Indiana

ORDER AHEAD

SENIOR SUPPORTS

We deliver supplemental groceries to over 1,900 seniors in the Region

LEARN MORE

MOBILE MARKET

Your food bank is on the road distributing healthy, nutritious food every week. Click here to learn where we are today!

SEE SCHEDULE
MAKE AN IMPACT

Get involved

“Join us in the fight against hunger! Whether you’re an individual, group, or business, there are numerous ways to make a meaningful impact in our community. Volunteer your time at our distribution center, donate funds or food items, organize a food drive, or partner with us through corporate sponsorships and events. Every contribution, big or small, helps us provide essential meals and support to those in need. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that no one in the Region goes hungry.”

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Food for thought

Strack & Van Til feeds thousands of families for holidays

December 25, 2024

Strack & Van Til is feeding thousands of families for the holiday season. The Highland-based supermarket chain donated to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, the Salvation Army and the Boys & Girls Club in the spirit of holiday giving. It helped raise funds for the needy through its Strack & Van Til Checkout Challenge, in which customers round up their purchases to the next dollar to make a purchase. “Our stores, with the help of our employees, simply provide our customers an outlet to give to some of their favorite local organizations,” President Jeff Strack said. “Giving back to the communities we serve is just naturally a part of the culture at Strack & Van Til. We are very

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Food Bank of NW Indiana using innovative Order Ahead Food Locker program to fight hunger

December 3, 2024

Food Bank of Northwest Indiana serves both Lake and Porter counties ByBlanca Rios LAKE COUNTY, Ind. (WLS) — On this Giving Tuesday, you may want to consider throwing your support to your local food bank. The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana serves both Lake and Porter counties. Nearly 91,000 people face food insecurity in that area. But one of the many ways they’re helping fight hunger is through their free and innovative Order Ahead Food Locker program. “Maybe someone who doesn’t qualify for food stamps and is working two jobs. They can come to the locker and just get their food. it takes them about two minutes. They can set a pin and punch it in and open the locker.

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As mission grows, Food Bank of NWI rises to meet the need

November 20, 2024

Since moving from a modest 12,000-square-foot barn in Gary to a 75,000-square-foot facility in Merrillville, the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana has collected and distributed more than 40 million pounds of food. And it not slowing down. The move to 6490 Broadway happened in 2018 and the following year — its first full year in the new digs — the nonprofit set what was then a record of 6 million pounds. In 2020, COVID-19 hit and pushed the total to 11 million pounds. “That nearly doubled our capacity,” says Amy Briseño, vice president of Development and Communications for the organization. “No one would have predicted that. It just crushed that record. “That’s really amazing when you think about it. It

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Community-owned food pantry in Gary helps feed thousands each month

November 19, 2024

By Blanca Rios and Judy Hsu GARY, Ind. (WLS) — ABC7 Chicago is helping to Feed the Love this holiday season. The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana serves both Lake and Porter counties. Nearly 91,000 people in that area face food insecurity. And the need is even greater in Gary, with one in five households struggling to put enough food on the table. But a local minister has a plan to end hunger in his community. “My goal is to destroy food insecurity in the city of Gary,” minister LuJuan Clemons said. Clemons is the founder of the Family Life Community Center, located at 565 Massachusetts St. in Gary. His pantry-turned-co-op holds food distribution several times a month. “It helps

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American Water Charitable Foundation and Indiana American Water Announce $44,000 in State Strategic Impact Grants to Food Banks in Terre Haute, Muncie, Greater Indianapolis and Northwest Indiana

January 17, 2024

Funding Will Help Food Banks to Supply Meals to Residents Facing Food Insecurity This Holiday Season GREENWOOD, Ind. (Dec. 17, 2024) – The American Water Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization established by American Water, the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the U.S., and Indiana American Water announced today that the Foundation awarded a total of $44,000 in State Strategic Impact grants to four hunger relief organizations to help address food insecurity in the Hoosier State. “This contribution from the American Water Charitable Foundation is tremendous investment in our community.  We are honored to be the recipient of the funds that will directly support our Mobile Market program, “said Victor Garcia, Executive Director of Foodbank of Northwest Indiana.

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6490 Broadway, Merrillville, IN 46410
219.980.1777
219.525.4043 fax
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The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana does not collect any personal information from this website. Food Bank of Northwest Indiana is a 501(c)(3) private nonprofit organization. ©2025 Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. In accordance with Federal law and internal policy, the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana is prohibited to discriminate in all its program and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental states, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individuals’ income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana CEO at 219-980-1777. The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

The following percentages and dollar amounts of the total costs which will be financed with federal money: TEFAP (28%, $5,154,776) and CSFP (7%, $1,313,104). The percentage and dollar amount of the total costs of the project or program that will be financed by nongovernmental sources is 65%, ($12,144,804)

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