Midwest Food Bank Indiana is closer to breaking ground on a new 50,000-square-foot warehouse that will help combat food insecurity across the state.
Through its “Under One Roof” campaign, the nonprofit has secured $7 million toward its $9 million goal.
The new facility will consolidate operations from two separate warehouses, improving efficiency and lowering costs. The move will allow the organization to direct more resources toward feeding families and expanding services.
“This campaign is about so much more than bricks and mortar — it’s about people,” said Diara Nicholson, executive director of Midwest Food Bank Indiana. “A unified space means we can serve more families, support more volunteers, and respond more quickly when hunger strikes. This new building is a symbol of compassion in action — a place where hope is packed, sorted, and delivered to those who need it most.”
The campaign’s lead gift of $4 million came from the Jean and Bernas Downing Charitable Trust. Their donation inspired another $1 million from local churches, businesses, and individuals. Lilly Endowment Inc. contributed $2 million, continuing its support for efforts to fight food insecurity across Indiana.
Midwest Food Bank Indiana has seen rapid growth over the last decade. In 2014, it distributed $27 million worth of food. By 2019, that number rose to $40 million, and this year the organization is on track to distribute more than $74 million in food.
According to Development Director Marcie Luhigo, the new facility will help serve the 44 partner organizations currently on the waitlist and allow expansion into rural areas that lack reliable food access.
Midwest Food Bank currently provides 24.5 million meals each year, working with more than 250 nonprofits at no cost. Its efforts also prevent more than 20 million pounds of food waste annually, reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to over one million cars.
Donations made now will be matched by Lilly Endowment Inc. For more information or to contribute, visit midwestfoodbank.org.
Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
