Hunger relief partners join Saturday to “Pack the Local Pantries”

Kroger, Gleaners Food Bank, volunteers from local food pantries, and members of several communities will join this weekend to fight hunger. They’re working together to “Pack the Local Pantries” in more than a dozen Hoosier communities.

“Kroger is honored to support these essential community service events,” Kroger Central Division President Colleen Juergensen said. “These Pack the Local Pantries drives pair perfectly with our Zero Hunger | Zero Waste plan, Kroger’s national initiative to end hunger in the communities we serve. The partnership with local pantries and the generosity of local Kroger customers will go a long way to help struggling families fill the gap between what they have and what they need.”

The Pack the Local Pantries campaign is a fitting conclusion to September’s Hunger Action Month, the national campaign to promote awareness of local hunger concerns and inspire action to address them.

“Nearly two-thirds of the food distributed by Gleaners is done through our local pantry partners in our 21-county service area,” Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana President and CEO Fred Glass said. “These food drives will directly benefit people facing hunger in their communities thanks to neighbors helping neighbors.”

For six hours on Saturday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., volunteers will gather at these local Kroger stores to collect customer contributions for nearby food pantries.

• Noblesville: 14800 Hazel Dell Road
• Noblesville: 172 W. Logan St.
• Westfield: 150 W. 161st St.
• Westfield: 17447 Carey Road

Participating pantries have many of the same food needs. Here are products commonly desired to replenish their shelves:

• Canned fruit and vegetables
• Canned meats
• Canned fish
• Canned soups
• Oatmeal
• Pasta and canned spaghetti sauce
• Peanut butter
• Shelf-stable milk

With donations down and demand up, food drive organizers hope caring Kroger customers provide enough donations on Saturday to help refill pantry shelves and restore their ability to support central and southern Indiana families.