General Information
The Food Bank of Northern Indiana is a certified member of America’s Second Harvest. Second Harvest, the Nation’s Food Bank Network, is the largest domestic hunger-relief charity in the United States. The Network consists of more than 200 food banks and food-rescue organizations. The Network, in all, is comprised of approximately 80% of all food banks in the nation, according to the USDA.
The America’s Second Harvest Network secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of food and grocery products to 50,000 charitable feeding agencies, including kitchens, pantries and shelters. Those agencies in turn feed an estimated 25 million Americans in need each year.
In 1993, the Food Bank was founded under the name of the North Central Indiana Food Bank. That year we distributed a modest 6,800 pounds of food to 29 social service agencies. Since our inception we have distributed over 40 million pounds of food worth a wholesale value in excess of $30,000,000. Our member agencies pay a small handling fee called a shared maintenance fee of approximately 16 cents per pound. The Food Bank relies on fees paid by member agencies, grants, and donations from individuals.
According to a Second Harvest food study, food banks are by far the single most important source of food for most agencies, accounting for 74% of the food used by pantries, 49% for kitchens, and 42% for shelters.
Many of our clients (46.7%) report having to choose between food and other necessities, such as paying for utilities or heating fuel, rent or mortgage, medicine or medical care. Nearly 100,000 individuals in Northern Indiana receive food assistance through FBNI’s member agencies.
8% of these individuals are infants up to 5 years of age.36.4% are children under the age of 18.10% are elderly (65 years of age or older)5% receive Temporary Assistance for needy families and 7% receive General Assistance.12% are homeless. 68% have incomes below the federal poverty level.Anything that you can do to help the FBNI will make a difference.
