Dunkin’ Brands Midwest Chapter Donates $20,000, volunteers to help
fight hunger at Food Bank of Northwest Indiana
On Wednesday, October 19, Dunkin’ Brands Midwest Chapter presented a $20,000 donation to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana to support hunger relief programs, services, and volunteer efforts. More than 35 employees from Dunkin Donuts stores across the Region also volunteered in the afternoon as part of a company-wide service event supporting the Dunkin Brands’ Joy of Childhood Foundation. The Dunkin’ Brands Midwest Chapter alone—encompassing a seven state territory—held 18 volunteer events and gave out more than $180,000 in donations during the week.
The volunteer group sorted bread donations to be distributed throughout the community, assembled 40-pound boxes of food for low-income seniors in the Region, and packed BackPacks full of nutritious weekend meals to be passed out to schoolchildren need. The Joy of Childhood Foundation focuses on health and hunger for children, which is why many of the volunteer activities focused on work that would impact and bring joy to children’s lives. In total, the group packed, assembled, and sorted nearly 5,500 meals for kids, adults, and seniors struggling with hunger in Northwest Indiana.
Taru Patel, a Dunkin Donuts franchisee in the Region, has been volunteering at the Food Bank since 2008 when her son, Dave Patel, learned of the organization’s volunteer opportunities from a teacher in high school. Dave is now a franchisee like his mom, and both are glad to give back to their community and bring joy to local children in need through volunteer opportunities.
“I’m always happy when I come here [to volunteer],” said Taru.
The Food Bank is no stranger to the giving nature of Dunkin Donuts. For more than three years a local Dunkin Donuts restaurant has been donating one dozen donuts a week to a regular volunteer group.
“Dunkin Donuts is a wonderful community partner,” said Steve Beekman, Deputy Director and Head of Development for the Food Bank. “They bring a great group of volunteers out every year. And locally, they support our volunteers every week. With this donation, they will make an even greater impact in the work that our volunteers do to fight hunger in Northwest Indiana every day.”
