Food Distribution Project Packs Meals Out Of Lucas Oil Stadium

The need for food assistance is growing quickly, across Indiana. This week the Salvation Army, Midwest Food Bank, and The Indiana National Guard met at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts, to pack 10,000 food boxes. 

They will send the boxes statewide. Incident Commander for the Salvation Army Indiana Division Lt. Vinal Lee says they’ve almost accomplished their goal. 

"Kind of working down this assembly line to put vital food items into these boxes, get them on a pallet, wrap them and get them out the door," says Lee, "so we can get them on trucks and shipped out across the state."

The boxes are filled with nonperishable items and provide a week’s worth of meals for a family of four. They will be distributed to pantries and other existing partners around the state.

Midwest Food Bank Executive Director John Whitaker says Lucas Oil Stadium has helped in the effort.

"They offered their facility, they offered to give us volunteer help with their employees as they are still paying them and it’s just wonderful to see this collaboration throughout the city," says Whitaker. 

Lee says some recipients have never needed food assistance before. 

"Families who have gone without a paycheck for the first time in their entire lives, and they are navigating what it means to go to a food pantry for the first time, or even to ask for help," says Lee. 

The groups currently plan to sustain the packing and distribution efforts for several months.