Gleaners CEO Fred Glass speaks to Westfield Rotarians

By RON FALL
Rotary Club of Westfield

Fred Glass, President and CEO of Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, shared powerful insights on the growing challenge of food insecurity and the significant impact Gleaners is making across 21 counties in the state with the Rotary Club of Westfield this week.

A former Indianapolis attorney and former Athletic Director at Indiana University, Glass now leads Indiana’s largest food bank. Under his leadership, Gleaners supports more than 300 partner pantries, including 90 school-based sites.

Last year, Gleaners provided 54.3 million meals to families in need. Despite this impressive effort, demand continues to rise. Glass noted that one in seven Americans currently face food insecurity, the highest rate in more than a decade. Importantly, more than two-thirds of these households include at least one working adult. Hamilton County has experienced one of the fastest increases in food insecurity in the region since the pandemic.

To keep up with growing need, Gleaners now purchases approximately 50 percent of the food it distributes. The organization also places a strong emphasis on nutrition, with 68 percent of all distributed items meeting FDA healthy standards. This includes fresh, nutritious foods such as milk, eggs, and produce.

Beyond providing meals, Gleaners helps connect individuals and families with additional critical resources, including healthcare, legal aid, and other essential services. As Glass explained, the goal is not just to “feed the line,” but to “shorten the line” by addressing the root causes of hunger.

Glass pointed to rising housing and grocery costs, stagnant wages, and reduced government support as key drivers of food insecurity. He also highlighted the broader consequences, including poorer health outcomes and academic challenges for children.

“This is not a ‘them’ problem – it’s an ‘us’ problem,” he emphasized.

Glass closed by expressing strong support for the Rotary Club’s potential partnership with Westfield High School to establish a new school-based food pantry.