Indy Nonprofit Shifts Gears to Deliver Food During Pandemic
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowAn Indianapolis-based nonprofit is pivoting its focus to help others during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nine13sports, which provides a variety of health and education programs serving some 60,000 elementary and middle school students, is now using its trucks to deliver thousands of pounds of food to those in need. Chief Executive Officer Tom Hanley says the effort is in partnership with Gleaners Food Bank, Second Helpings and Indy Hunger Network.
In an interview on Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick, Hanley said he knew a change would be coming as schools were closed due to the pandemic.
“I was really faced with this kind of polar opposite situation where I wanted to make sure I protected my staff but ultimately, also I had to protect the organization and as we aren’t going to be in schools until August or September, best case, those were in direct conflict,” said Hanley. “Within the space of about 48 hours, I went from being very concerned there would be staff that weren’t coming back post-pandemic to building this model of being able to deliver food across central Indiana using our trucks and our trailers and our staff.”
Hanley says his partners run the call the support phone number that people can call to receive food deliveries. The partners also provide the food that Nine13sports then delivers.
“When an individual calls the support number or texts Gleaners to the support number, it goes through a screening process and allows us to receive that information. We are delivering information to the doorsteps of individuals that are immunocompromised or pregnant or considered high-risk or have been told by a doctor to not leave their home typically within about 24 hours of the request coming through the network system.”
Hanley says the group has been able to deliver about 150,000 pounds of food per week for the last eight weeks.