The Food Bank of
Northwest Indiana at a press conference Wednesday spoke about the state of
hunger in the region, while at the first ever Mobile Market in Porter
County.
Mark Lopez, from
the Honorable Peter Visclosky’s office (U.S. House of Representatives) and
Valparaiso’s City Manager, Bill Odeing were also in attendance at the
conference.
More than 50
million people in America face hunger; in Lake and Porter Counties there are
more than 104,000 individuals and 34,000 are children. Programs like the
Mobile Market, and a number of others that the Food Bank of NWI implements,
help feed the food insecure in northwest Indiana.
The Mobile Market
is unique in that is managed and funded directly by the Food Bank; providing
fresh produce as well as canned items, proteins, bread and more to those
needing assistance. Fresh fruits and vegetables are especially critical for
many low income families and help provide a balanced diet.
Funding for the
Food Bank of NWI’s programs is from generous donors as well as grants
throughout the year. The Food Bank of NWI along with Janette Ferrara, GM
from Walmart (Valparaiso) and approximately two dozen Walmart volunteers
announced two recently secured grants worth $16,000 from the Walmart
Foundation.
With Walmart
Foundation’s Indiana State Giving Program the Food Bank created an all new
senior feeding program in East Chicago called the Senior Pac. Senior Pac
provides 100 seniors with 30 meals each month. Programs like the Senior Pac
can pave the way for future senior-specific programs throughout Lake and
Porter Counties.
Walmart
Foundation’s additional grant provided the Food Bank with a 24-foot
refrigerated truck to join the aging fleet of vehicles at the Food Bank. The
vehicle will be used to help secure additional fresh, perishable food from
retailers across northwest Indiana. Adding to the fleet, the Food Bank can
also travel more and reach greater distances to help feed the food insecure
throughout the region.