Food for thought

Strack & Van Til feeds thousands of families for holidays

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

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

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

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

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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