Springfield food bank receives $25,000 grant

Grant from Honda of America will help cover Harvest Food Bank’s transportation costs. Bill Lackey/Staff

Grant from Honda of America will help cover Harvest Food Bank’s transportation costs. Bill Lackey/Staff

The Second Harvest Food Bank of Clark, Champaign and Logan Counties announced they have been awarded a $25,000 grant from Honda of American Foundation.

The grant will support the food bank’s transportation operational expenses. The food bank logs over 25,000 miles on their four trucks transporting food annually.

“A large part of our day to day operation is dependent on working with local grocery stores and food distribution companies to secure food,” said the Executive Director of Second Harvest Food Bank, Tyra Jackson. “Approximately 2.5 million pounds of food is rescued from our food distribution partners in Clark, Champaign and Logan County each year.”

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Second Harvest uses their mobile food truck to deliver food directly to community members who do not have access to their own transportation, at least twenty times a month.

The mobile pantry truck takes food to areas with limited resources and access to fresh food. The trucks also take food directly to member distribution agencies, such as other food pantries, so they can provide food directly to the public.

“There are over 35,000 people in Clark, Champaign and Logan County who choose between filing a prescription, paying rent, utility bills or eating,” Jackson said. “The Honda of America Foundation grant allows us to get the food where it is most needed.”

Along with financial support, Honda associates volunteer at the warehouse at least twice a year, bringing over 50 people to help sort and pack food for distribution, according to a statement from the Second Harvest Food Bank.

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Second Harvest Food Bank serves the tri-county community by sourcing, collecting, storing and distributing over five million pounds of food to 61 non-profit member agencies who feed the hungry directly, according to their website.

The food bank is focused on bringing healthy, nutritious food to those in the community struggling with hunger through innovative programs such as children feeding programs, senior food initiatives and the mobile pantry distribution.

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