Making a BIG Impact

Midwest Food Bank was named as a recipient of the Johnson County Community Foundation BIGs Grant. The $25,000 grant will be used to support the MFB's Promise for Protein Program for 2018/2019.

The Promise for Protein is a grant-funded program that allows MFB to purchase ground pork for ninety-nine cents a pound.

It started in 2010 is a collaborative effort developed by Midwest Food Bank and United Animal Health located in Sheridan IN. Promise for Protein was developed to provide a sustainable source of protein, a rare blessing in the food bank system. Already, 250,000 lbs. of ground pork have been given to hungry Hoosiers.

"It is our desire to continue to grow the Promise for Protein program," said John Whitaker Midwest Food Bank Indiana Executive Director. "The Johnson County Community Foundation has once again acted on behalf of those in need of assistance."

The overall poverty rate in Johnson County 2016 was 7.6% and among children under 18 it is 9.8%. Additionally, there were 8,841 individuals receiving SNAP benefits in 2017 and 9,472 children receiving reduced and free lunch. MFB supports 20 partner agencies in Johnson County who are currently helping to feed 10,200 food insecure individuals each month.