MERRILLVILLE, Ind. — In
observance of Hunger Action Month,
Centier Bank teamed up with the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana in
September to host a company-wide food drive. It resulted in 441 lbs of
donated food, which, combined with the bank’s $1,700 community donation,
resulted in 10,200 meals the food bank can now provide across The
Region.
Feeding
America’s website states, “For tens of millions of people in America, a
daily meal isn’t a choice between different dishes. It’s a choice between food
and other crucial needs—like medicine, electricity, or childcare.”
Bob Lueder, Hospitality Manager at Centier Bank, spearheaded
the effort which made a local impact as part of a national effort by Feeding
America, which the Northwest Indiana Food Bank
belongs to.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, over 60 million people across
the country turned to their local food banks to get their families fed, which
is a testament to how important local food banks are,” Lueder said. “The
Centier Bank family aims to continuously give back to our neighbors and improve
the quality of life in our communities. I was so proud to see the amount of
food we were able to accumulate in just a few weeks.”
Lueder said that Centier associates regularly volunteer at
the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, as part of the organization’s Servant Heart
Culture.
“We are all encouraged to volunteer in our communities and to
give back as much as we can, those are the values that Centier Bank has been
founded upon,” he explained.
Amy Briseno, Donor Relations Coordinator at the Food Bank of
Northwest Indiana, said roughly 25,000 people a month access the resources
through the food bank, and the donations from the month-long food drive will
positively impact residents in Lake and Porter counties.
“Food insecurity in Northwest
Indiana is a serious concern. One out of every six people don’t know where their next
meal is coming from – within that, one out three children are considered
food insecure and Indiana ranks 8th in
the nation for senior hunger,” Briseno said. “This
amount of food goes far for those who are struggling with food insecurity, and
these gifts go directly to those who otherwise may not have groceries to
feed themselves and their family.”
For more information about, to donate, or to volunteer at the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, go to foodbanknwi.org. For more information about Centier Bank, go to centier.com.
