Food bank fills needs in wake of storms

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The need for food in storm-stricken southern Indiana is huge. So a central Indiana food bank is working hard to help those who might otherwise go hungry.

Frozen corn and frozen taco bites were among items being bagged and readied for shipment to southern Indiana, where The Salvation Army will turn them into a hot meal for those who have no way of making a hot meal for themselves.

"We've already shipped six semis - that's over 70 tons of products - down there, about a quarter of a million dollars in disaster relief," said John Whitaker, director of operations for Midwest Food Bank in Indianapolis.

Whitaker said that's just since Friday, and it's included more than food.

"We have banana boxes right here, and some clothing's come in, so we're sorting it by size, getting ready to send it down to Madison, Ind., right now," he said.

And all of this coordinated by Whitaker, the only paid staff member of Midwest Food Bank, and made by possible by dozens of volunteers.

Kara Hepler is using her spring break from college to lend a helping hand.

"If we can't be down there getting our hands dirty,” she said, “we want to do everything we can here to get as much down there as we can," she said.

Donations from people, churches and local businesses are making the help for southern Indiana possible. But the need is so great, more donations are always welcome.

"We also need things like peanut butter and jelly and rice and beans, pop-top canned vegetables and fruits," Whitaker said.

And money is needed too. While Midwest Food Bank is sending supplies to southern Indiana, it still feeds 60 thousand to 70 thousand Hoosiers here at home every month.

"It's the community coming together to take care of people down in this disaster,” Whitaker said. “It's a beautiful thing."

Midwest supplies food to emergency agencies such as The Salvation Army. Whitaker said a $1 donation to the organization can provide $30 dollars worth of food. Learn more about the food bank at its website .