Indianapolis food bank celebrates 30 years, new facility

April 16, 2010

I woke up on the morning of Wednesday, April 14, to find an amazing front-page story in The Indianapolis Star about the new Gleaners Food Bank 300,000-square-foot facility, their 30th year anniversary celebration and kick-off to the public portion of its $11.6 million capital fundraising campaign. I took a trip to Indianapolis to join the staff there for their celebrations.

When I arrived to the new facility, I was welcomed by helpful and friendly food bank staff and volunteers who were excited for the guests and media to arrive. With some time to spare before the event began, I put myself to work helping out with some last minute preparations.

Before I knew it, it was 11:30 am and the guests began to pour in. Invitees included food bank donors, volunteers, board members, friends and family. Approximately 400 people were in attendance with special guests–sport-team mascots for the Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever and Indianapolis Indians.

Minutes before the event started I quickly grabbed a seat, where I found myself next to a lovely, senior couple who have been big supporters of the food bank for more than 10 years.

When I asked the couple why they become so involved with the food bank, Chuck Denlinger responded with enthusiasm, “I don’t think there’s anything more worthwhile than a food bank—it has become a passion of ours—and that’s why we are here today.”

The event kicked off with Quinn Buckner, Vice President of Communications for Pacers Sports and Entertainment, and was followed by a welcome address fromGreg Ballard, Mayor of Indianapolis.

We then heard from Jim Morris, Campaign Chair of the Campaign for Gleaners and President of Pacers Sports and Entertainment; Ronald Talbot, Board Chair of Gleaners and Senior Vice President of Indianapolis Power and Light; and Pamela Altmeyer, President and CEO of the Gleaners Food Bank.

“We can’t do what we do without volunteers,” addressed Pamela during her closing remarks to a room full of some of her food bank’s strongest supporters. “There would be no food bank without those gifts of food and funds.”

The remaining of the afternoon included a buffet lunch for attendees and tours of the new facility.

On the tour, one of the most fascinating facts I learned is that the new food bank has nine drive-through doors and 15 pull-up docks—making its distribution more efficient. This means that the food bank would now be able to serve up to 40 agencies at one time, as opposed to only serving up to four agencies at a time in its previous facility.

The new food bank, formerly the warehouse to Monarch Beverage, is nearly four times the size of its old building and is located on the Southwest side of Indianapolis.

I also had the pleasure of speaking with Pamela about the new facility and grand opening event. Watch our conversation.

And here’s a behind-the-scene look into the new facility of the Gleaners Food Bank before it officially opens on Monday, April 19.