(Second Harvest Food Bank News Release)
MUNCIE, Ind. – Muncie-based Second Harvest Food Bank has a new way of providing food to thousands of East Central Indiana residents in need. Second Harvest has two newly acquired refrigerated semi-trailers on the road thanks to a $104,000 grant provided by The American Electric Power Foundation (AEP Foundation) on behalf of Indiana Michigan Power (I&M).
The AEP Foundation grant enables Second Harvest Food Bank, the third largest food bank in Indiana, to transport significantly more food donations from businesses and organizations that provide surplus food to those living with food insecurity.
Second Harvest is seeing an increase in the amount of food it provides as a result of COVID-19. In 2020, it supplied more than 14.8 million pounds of food compared to 8.1 million pounds in 2019.
“We want to thank the AEP Foundation and I&M for this generous donation as we help our community members deeply impacted by this last year,” said Tim Kean, President and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank. “The funds help Second Harvest remain committed to ensuring healthy food is available to anyone who needs support. This grant is instrumental in enabling Second Harvest to provide increased food and resources to tens of thousands of neighbors in need.”
The semi-trailers help the agency expedite the delivery of more food to Food Distribution Tailgates, schools, area agency partners and adult-living facilities. Each 53-foot trailer hauls an average load of 30,000 pounds of food, or approximately 25,000 meals. Both semi-trailers can transport multiple loads per day, delivering more than 50,000 meals daily.
“Muncie and other parts of East Central Indiana have been home to I&M and its forerunners for more than a century, and we are pleased to help area residents meet their basic needs during these unprecedented times,” said Toby Thomas, I&M president and COO. “Our employees live and work in East Central Indiana. They are your neighbors and friends. We are committed to helping our neighbors, and this is one way we can help the people in our communities remain nourished, healthy and safe as we all strive for better days ahead.”
Over the past year, the AEP Foundation and I&M stepped up efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic to support residents and communities in East Central Indiana as well as other areas in I&M’s service territory.
I&M encourages local businesses, non-profits and those who call East Central Indiana home to support the Second Harvest Food Bank. For more information visit: www.CureHunger.org.
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ABOUT SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF EAST CENTRAL INDIANA: Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana is the region’s largest hunger-relief organization serving over 100 pantries and meal programs in Blackford, Delaware, Grant, Henry, Jay, Madison, Randolph and Wabash Counties. With a vision to see people in East Central Indiana free from hunger and self-sufficient, our mission is to provide help for today by feeding the hungry and hope for tomorrow by addressing the causes of food insecurity while empowering people toward self-sufficiency. Our goal is to feed East Central Indiana's most vulnerable residents through a region-wide network of member agencies and programs and to engage our region in the fight to end hunger.
ABOUT THE AEP FOUNDATION: The American Electric Power Foundation is funded by American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) and its utility operating units, including Indiana Michigan Power. The Foundation provides a permanent, ongoing resource for charitable initiatives involving higher dollar values and multi-year commitments in the communities served by AEP and initiatives outside of AEP’s 11-state service area. The Foundation’s areas of focus include special emphasis on improving lives through education from early childhood through higher education, protecting the environment, providing basic human services in the areas of hunger, housing, health and safety, and enriching life through art, music and cultural heritage. The Foundation is based in Columbus, Ohio.
ABOUT INDIANA MICHIGAN POWER: Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is headquartered in Fort Wayne, and its approximately 2,100 employees serve more than 599,000 customers. More than two-thirds of its energy delivered in 2019 was emission-free. I&M has at its availability various sources of generation including 2,278 MW of nuclear generation in Michigan, 450 MW of purchased wind generation from Indiana, more than 22 MW of hydro generation in both states and approximately 15 MW of large-scale solar generation in both states. The company’s generation portfolio also includes 2,620 MW of coal-fueled generation in Indiana.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Robby Tompkins
Director of Philanthropy
Second Harvest Food Bank
Of East Central Indiana
765-287-8698 ext. 119
rtompkins@curehunger.org
Tracy Warner
Indiana Michigan Power Communications
260-479-9484
tkwarner@aep.com