Food and Nutrition

"Donations to food banks (are) at a four-year low nationwide, relief organizations have to purchase staples themselves."
San Francisco Chronicle June, 2008

Our food pantry shelves are almost bare many days, but demand is up. Way up.  More and more of our clients desperately need our shelves to be well stocked, but in this economy our regular grocery and retail contributors can't afford the delivery and fuel costs to bring us the truckloads they used to bring and they can often resell their dented or overstocked goods to discounters. With school out and families busy with summer activities there are fewer food drives, and food donations from individuals are historically lower in the summer months.  Toiletries can't be purchased with food stamps and for our clients certain toiletries and bathroom supplies can be especially important as the medications they take or their health issues can trigger gastrointestinal issues.

The Coby Palmer Pantry Fund

The food pantry relies on the generosity of people just like you to keep it running.  We depend not only on your in-kind contributions of items such as food and toiletries, but on monetary donations as well to continue to serve our clients.  As a tribute to a dedicated Damien Center friend, Coby Palmer, we are initiating the Coby Palmer Pantry Fund.  We have a multi-tiered annual goal for this project detailed below and examples of ways that your donations might be used to support the food pantry at these levels.  It's up to you how far we go in accomplishing these goals.

Tier One - $5,000 
Help meet the basic financial needs of the food pantry for one year allowing it to remain fully operational for our clients.
 
Tier Two - $10,000 
Help meet the basic financial needs of the food pantry for one year
Replace dated and inadequate shelving units 
 
Tier Three - $25,000 
Help meet the basic financial needs of the food pantry for one year
Replace dated and inadequate shelving units
Procure a van and one year's gasoline, maintenance and insurance costs to allow us to transport large church or other institutional food drive donations and/or smaller retail donations.
 
Tier Four - $50,000 
Help meet the basic financial needs of the food pantry for one year
Replace dated and inadequate shelving units
Procure a van/truck and one year's gasoline, maintenance and insurance to allow us to transport large church or other institutional food drive donations and/or smaller retail donations.
Exploration of the Food Pantry Expansion Project in which we would physically expand the pantry into an adjoining space, build out storage options and purchase freezers and allowing The Damien Center to serve even more clients. 

We need your help to reach these goals!  You can make your donation right now via our secure website by clicking on this link.

Suggested Food Pantry Fund giving levels are shown below, and we welcome a gift at whatever level you can afford to give at this time.  Donors of $500 and over will have their name included on a permanent plaque to be hung near the food pantry entrance.

$250
$500
$1000
$1500

Additionally, there are opportunities for major donors to sponsor specific items and projects such as the van or Food Pantry Expansion Project construction or freezers or the one-time purchase of materials.  If you're interested in one of these larger donations, please contact Elisa Rogowski, Director of Development & Communications at 317-632-0123 x269.

Of course, the food pantry is always in need of a multitude of in-kind items.  Donations can be made at the food pantry during business hours, or you may contact us to help facilitate larger donations for pick up.  Items most in need include:

canned and frozen protein goods
peanut butter
cereal
canned fruit and vegetables
soup
pasta and rice
spaghetti sauce
toilet paper
toiletries
laundry detergent

This is what the Damien Center Food Pantry should look like every day.  Unfortunately after just two or three days, since the need is so great, our shelves are quickly depleted.  Stop by today and donate a few canned vegetables, laundry detergent, or a package of toilet paper.  These items are appreciated more than you will ever know.

26 N. Arsenal Avenue | Indianapolis, IN 46201 | p. 317.632.0123 | t. 800.213.1163 | f. 317.632.4362 | info@damien.org

A very special thank you to Walgreens, Panera and Target for their donations to the food pantry.

   Target