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About Food Bank of Northern Indiana

General Information

The Food Bank of Northern Indiana is a 501C3 non-profit organization that solicits, stores and distributes donated food and non-perishable grocery products to a network of 185 member agencies in Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaPorte, Marshall, Starke and St. Joseph counties in northern Indiana. 

The Food Bank of Northern Indiana distributed a record 5 million pounds of food in 2010, a 125% increase from 2009 distribution, to 185 member agencies - a staggering increase from our humble beginnings in 1993 when the Food Bank of Northern Indiana distributed a modest 6,800 pounds of food to 29 agencies.  Through our agencies, we served nearly one-quarter million households in northern Indiana in 2010 and our member agencies meal providers (shelters, soup kitchens and other meal sites) provided 1,272,277 meals.

Through our exceptional buying power, for each dollar donated to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana, we can turn that one dollar into up to seven meals to feed those with hunger insecurity issues.

According to Feeding America's 2010 Hunger in America Executive Summary - Local Report Prepared for the Food Bank of Northern Indiana:

History

In May 1993 United Religious Community of St. Joseph County's Hunger Education Task Force accepted the challenge of reestablishing food banking services in north central Indiana. In July of 1993, an organizing meeting brought together the first volunteer board of directors. The board agreed that the North Central Indiana Food Bank would be the entity of record created to address local problems of hunger and malnutrition by providing quality food to participating social service agencies.

The North Central Indiana Food Bank began operations as an SDO (Subsidiary Distribution Organization) of Gleaners Food Bank of Indianapolis. As our member agencies and donor base grew, we became self sufficient and large enough to be considered for national certification. In February 1996, we became a certified food bank of the Second Harvest National Food Bank network. As a member of Second Harvest, we received offerings of donated product, which was allocated based on the poverty population within our six county service area.

Our first distribution of 6,800 pounds was made from Hanson’s Cold Storage in December of 1993 with 29 participating agencies. In July of 2000, we purchased our current location on Chapin Street in downtown South Bend, an 82,000-square-foot facility, to ensure adequate storage to meet the rising demand for food in northern Indiana.

Much of our success is due to the support received from the United Religious Community of St. Joseph County, the Elkhart County Community Foundation, REAL Services, Inc., the St. Joseph County Community Foundation, the United Way of Kosciusko County, the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, the Lilly Endowment, Share Our Strength, the Fields Foundation, the Muessel-Ellison Foundation, the Florence Carroll Foundation and the Unity Foundation of LaPorte County. Grants from Real Services, Inc., allowed the Food Bank to purchase a 22' straight truck, a new computer system, and various equipment items. Financial support has also been received from individuals and organizations in our community that share our concern for feeding the hungry. A large debt of gratitude is also due the caring individuals who have contributed thousands of hours as volunteers.

In 2006, the agency’s name was changed to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana serving the six counties of: Elkhart, LaPorte, Kosciusko, Marshall, St. Joseph, and Starke. In 2008, America’s Second Harvest changed its name to Feeding America, representing what their member food banks do each and every day in every community in the United States.

In 2009 the Food Bank of Northern Indiana grew to over 225 member agencies, up from 139 in 2008. Also in 2009 we expanded our Retail Donation program and are receiving donations of hundreds of thousands of pounds of nutritious food product from our partners: Sam’s Club, Kroger’s, and Wal-Mart, reaching a total of nearly 4 million pounds distributed.

In 2010, the Food Bank of Northern Indiana distributed a record 5 million pounds of food and non-perishables and served nearly one-quarter million people through our network of 185 member agencies.  We grew our retail donation program, began a food rescue program, made enhancements to our physical structure, opened a Farmers Market and streamlined our transportation efforts.

The Food Bank of Northern Indiana is also a network member of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry (FIsH), the association of 11 food banks servicing the State of Indiana. These networked food banks assist in feeding the over 600,000 Hoosiers, including nearly 296,000 children and 38,000 seniors  in the state of Indiana every day with food insecurity issues.

Who We Serve

The Food Bank of Northern Indiana serves 185 agencies in the northern Indiana counties of St. Joseph, Elkhart, Kosciusko, Marshall, Starke and LaPorte. The Food Bank distributes 20,000 pounds of food each business day.

Board of Directors/Staff Directory

2012 Board of Directors

Chris Rowland, Board Chairman
The Healy Group, South Bend, Indiana

Curtis L. Bethel, Jr., Board Co-Chairman
1st Source Bank, South Bend, Indiana

Mark A. Norris, Secretary
Better World Books, Mishawaka, Indiana

Michael J. Ryan, Treasurer
Mutual Bank, Mishawaka, Indiana

Pam Batcho, Director
Ziker Cleaners and Uniform Rental, South Bend, Indiana

Todd Brown, Director
Teacher's Credit Union, South Bend, Indiana

Bruce Greenberg, Director
Family & Children's Center, Inc., Mishawaka, Indiana

Steven Jenkins, Director
The Kroger Company, Northern Indiana

John O’Brien, Director
WNDU-TV, South Bend, Indiana

Staff List