Nonprofit group to celebrate 10 years at upcoming annual meeting
Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank (HCHFB) will soon celebrate its 10th year as an organization, and HCHFB would love for the community to help in that celebration at its upcoming annual meeting. The event will honor those who have helped in the beginning and look ahead to what 2020 and beyond holds in addressing food insecurity in Hamilton County.
The annual meeting is open to the public and will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17 at the Ivy Tech Noblesville Auditorium, 300 N. 17th St., Noblesville. Click here to register for this free event. Be sure to stay for a special treat afterwards.
Along with this milestone, the Food Bank would like to welcome Janet Gafkjen as its newest employee. She will fill the newly-created role of Meals for Kids Coordinator.
Being the recipient of Community Development Block Grant funding in the 2019 cycle has allowed HCHFB to create this new position. Gafkjen will expand the implementation of the Food Bank Manager software and assist the critical programming area of Summer Lunches and School Weekend Meal Packs. With her experience in working with community health goals, software set up and data, laboratory management and training, she is uniquely qualified to help HCHFB implement this key initiative.
“Target Hunger was our 2019 Holiday Giving campaign, and we thank the many schools, businesses and families who contributed food and monetary donations,” said HCHFB Executive Director Anita Hagen. “Though food donations were down from prior year, we saw widespread and deep support from all across Hamilton County. It takes $1,020 to provide 600 pounds, or more importantly, 500 meals. HCHFB promises 600 pounds of healthy nutritious food to each of the 40+ pantries and meal programs we work with each month of the year.”
Hagen continued, “We need to Target Hunger throughout the year, not just the holidays. There are a lot of activities to help with after the Holiday Giving season. The next big one is the Postal Carrier’s Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on the Saturday before Mother’s Day (May 9). This food drive really helps set up the pantries for the lean summer months.”
After that, HCHFB will partner again with Hamilton County Kroger stores and local law enforcement agencies for “Pack the Cruiser” from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 6. During this one-day event shoppers can go into their local Kroger store and choose to purchase kid-friendly foods that they can donate right on the spot. That food will be used by their local Summer Meal Programs to feed students who depend on school meals during the school year.
From mid-May to October HCHFB will have volunteers at the Fishers and Noblesville Farmers Markets to pick up produce and bring it back to Ivy Tech Noblesville from local farmers who donate during the growing season.
Keep current on needs by following HCHFB on Facebook or by visiting HCHFoodBank.org and Sign Up Genius for many volunteer opportunities. You can also click here to help target hunger in Hamilton County.
About Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank
Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, supports over 40 food pantries and meal programs in neighborhoods all across Hamilton County with nonperishable food, fresh, locally grown produce, locally grown meat and network support. Since 2009, HCHFB has given over 750,000 meals into the county’s food support network. The organization’s stated goal is to Work Together with YOU to Feed Hamilton County.