Food Security in Indiana

Hoosiers Fighting Hunger Collects 275,402 Pounds of Food in 2009

Senator Dick Lugar praised the generosity of Hoosiers for donating nearly 138 tons of food to the 2009 Hoosiers Fighting Hunger statewide food drive benefiting Indiana food banks.

"Donating more than 4.5 tons per day, thousands of Hoosiers answered the call and, together, we collected 275,402 pounds of food for our state’s food banks in September. This level of generosity puts new emphasis on National Hunger Action Month and will help stock the shelves ahead of the holiday season," Lugar said.

"I deeply appreciate Kroger, Marsh and Walmart partnering for the first time in this food drive. In visits to each of the stores last month, I witnessed Hoosiers' generous spirit exemplified in the large stacks of food ready for the local food bank."

The Hoosiers Fighting Hunger food drive came about when Lugar heard from food banks across the state that demand had increased more than 30 percent over last year. In response, Lugar reached out to Kroger, Marsh and Walmart and asked them to partner, for the first time, in a statewide food drive. Setting aside competitive instincts, stores across the state set up Hoosiers Fighting Hunger displays with pre-bagged food items for purchase at the $3, $5 and $10 levels.

Lugar visited Kroger and Walmart on September 11 and visited Marsh on September 21 to encourage donations and thank the grocery companies for their unprecedented participation.