Food Bank of Northwest Indiana using innovative Order Ahead Food Locker program to fight hunger

LAKE COUNTY, Ind. (WLS) — On this Giving Tuesday, you may want to consider throwing your support to your local food bank.

The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana serves both Lake and Porter counties. Nearly 91,000 people face food insecurity in that area.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

But one of the many ways they’re helping fight hunger is through their free and innovative Order Ahead Food Locker program.

“Imagine if there’s an individual who doesn’t meet the requirements for food assistance and holds down two jobs. They can simply visit the food locker to collect their food, a process that lasts about two minutes. All they need to do is enter a personal identification number (PIN) to open the refrigerated or freezer locker,” explained Julie Anderson, the innovative technologies coordinator at the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana.

RELATED: ABC7 Chicago teams up with local food banks to fight food insecurity with ‘Feed the Love’

Right now, the lockers offer a variety box that includes all the food groups. But the goal is to eventually let the customers choose their own items.

“People can be served with dignity and respect, our veterans, our single parents, our elderly,” Anderson said. “They can come in the middle of the night, if they want. if they don’t want anyone to see them and I love that part of it because it’s getting great food to great people in a very respectful way.

There are currently five operational lockers in Northwest Indiana with a sixth one coming soon to Crown Point.

The program is helping feed more than one thousand people a month

Copyright © 2024 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like
St Charles shooting: Chainsaw-wielding man killed by police at River Glen of St. Charles ID'd as Daniel H. Escalera, officials say

Police in St. Charles fatally shoot man wielding chainsaw at River Glen identified as Daniel H. Escalera, authorities confirm

ST. CHARLES, Ill. (WLS) — A chainsaw-wielding man was shot and killed…
Oak Park shooting: Memorial grows for fallen police Detective Allan Reddins; suspect Jerell Thomas remains in hospital

Tribute Grows for Police Detective Allan Reddins in Oak Park Shooting; Suspect Jerell Thomas Still in Hospital

OAK PARK, Ill. (WLS) — A beloved member of the community is…
MUST-SEE: CNN Makes Dan Goldman Watch His Past Proclamation That Joe Biden Would Never Pardon Hunter

CNN Interview Challenges Dan Goldman on Previous Assertion That Joe Biden Would Not Pardon Hunter

Could Joe Biden have committed an act so controversial that even certain…
Native American students miss school at higher rates. It only got worse during the pandemic

Native American students are absent from school more often, and the situation worsened during the pandemic

After missing 40 days of school last year, Tommy Betom, 10, is…
Apple accused of spying on employees' iPhones in new lawsuit

Lawsuit alleges Apple is monitoring employees’ iPhones

Apple has been accused of illegally monitoring its workers’ personal iPhones and…
Jude Law joins the 'Star Wars' family in the new Disney+ series 'Star Wars: Skeleton Crew'

Jude Law becomes part of the ‘Star Wars’ franchise in the upcoming Disney+ show ‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’

LOS ANGELES — In a galaxy far, far away a new story…
Cross-examination tears into ex-Chicago Alderman Danny Solis' credibility in former Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan trial

Former Chicago Alderman Danny Solis’ credibility scrutinized in trial involving former Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan

CHICAGO (WLS) — Cross-examination of one of the key prosecution witnesses in…
DNC Finance Committee Member Blasts Harris Campaign Spending, 'Lining the Pockets of Well-Connected Dems'

“DNC Finance Committee Member Criticizes Harris Campaign’s Excessive Spending, Favors Well-Connected Democrats”

We’re just about four weeks post-election, and the post-mortems on the failed…
Missing Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi spotted crossing into MEXICO before father killed himself trying to find her

Woman from Hawaii, Hannah Kobayashi, seen entering Mexico, following which her father tragically took his own life while searching for her

Missing Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi has been spotted entering Mexico, according to law enforcement…
Gaza news: Children injured in Israel-Hamas war travel to Chicago O'Hare airport in journey to life-changing treatments

Gaza conflict: Kids hurt in Israel-Hamas war head to Chicago airport for vital medical care

CHICAGO (WLS) — Children from Gaza have traveled a long way to…
Charlamagne tha God's no nonsense message for Democrats after Hunter Biden pardon

“Charlamagne tha God’s Straight Talk to Democrats Following Hunter Biden Pardon”

Charlamagne tha God had a simple message for Democrats after President Joe…
Hannah Kobayashi case: LAPD says missing woman traveled to Mexico on own accord, has not been victimized

Hannah Kobayashi’s situation: LAPD states that a missing woman went to Mexico by herself and was not harmed

LOS ANGELES — The LAPD stated that Hannah Kobayashi, the Hawaii woman…