Gleaners CARE Mobile Pantry serves over 12,000 at Ivy Tech this summer

This summer, Ivy Tech Indianapolis was one of three sites that hosted the Gleaners Food Bank CARE Mobile Pantry Program. Gleaners transitioned to a drive-thru pantry model using pre-packed family meal boxes due to COVID-19 and distributed 1,546,551 pounds of food – the equivalent of 1,288,794 meals, valued at $2,505,412.

The CARE Program stands for the Community Action Relief Effort. This initiative has partnered with the Indianapolis Public Safety Departments to develop and implement a collaborative engagement program to address hunger in critical intersections in the city with higher crime rates, lack of educational achievement, unemployment and feelings of isolation.

“By using CFAP, Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, boxes were able to distribute a variety of fresh produce, frozen meat, milk and cheese,” Gleaners said in a recent article, adding that 536,604 pounds (35%) of fresh produce were distributed.

Ivy Tech Indianapolis’ site ran from June to September 2020 in the parking lot across the street from its Illinois Fall Creek Center, located at 2535 N. Capitol Ave. The following amount of people came through this Ivy Tech location each month:

• June: 2,759
• July: 3,047
• August: 3,086
• September: 3,397

Save A Lot/Marion County Election Board and John Marshall High School were two other CARE Mobile Pantry sites that also held drive-thru pantries this summer.

Additionally, Gleaners noted that Indy Parks distributed 29,773 meals to children during their time with CARE this summer.

To learn more about Gleaners, visit Gleaners.org. Ivy Tech students in need of food or other assistance can reach out to IvyCARES at IvyTech.edu/IvyCaresIndy.