CWC: Gleaners Food Bank

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Hunger during the holidays is a reality for many families who cannot afford their next meal. At Gleaners Food Bank , people in need can find everything from pita to pumpkin pie.

Nothing goes to waste at the food bank. At the distribution center on Waldemere Avenue on the west side of Indianapolis, rows and pallets of food do not sit for very long.

"Hunger doesn't have a season but this time of year it's even more magnitude as far as what's going on within our community and we've experienced about a 20 percent increase," said Cindy Hubert, president and CEO of Gleaners Food Bank .

Gleaners serves 350 agencies in 21 counties. That is how great the need for food is. Children and senior citizens are among the hungriest populations. That's why Gleaners is proud of its "Back Sack" program.

"It's two breakfasts, two (lunches), 2 dinners, snacks and drinks for the weekend," explains Rebecca Hersey, director of programs at Gleaners Food Bank.

Healthy, well-balanced, room temperature meals are given to kids in need from children in kindergarten to sixth grades.

"These are for children who are not receiving their meals at school as they do during the week,” Hersey said. “During the weekend, a lot of times they're in a very food-insecure situation."

This school year alone, about 10,000 Hoosier children are not sure when they'll get their next meal.

"We have children as young as 7 or 8 years old that are already developing self-rationing skills. They ask their teacher for Ziploc bags," said Hersey.

There's also a program for senior citizens. A monthly food supplement including veggies, meats and cheese is given to qualified candidates.

"What we're seeing in our lines right now are a lot of seniors who really feel like they've been forgotten. Society has forgotten them and during this holiday season we want to make sure they have food for the holidays," said Hersey.

You can help a hungry person with your time or treasure.

"We can take a dollar and buy five meals with a dollar. So we can stretch a dollar. We're great at stretching money," said Hubert.

Gleaners is always looking for volunteers and it welcomes anyone to take a tour and learn about how it's serving Central Indiana.