CCH launched the Food Rescue Initiative to fill a basic need necessitated by a Food Insecurity Rate higher than both state and national averages. Food Rescue is when stores donate food to organizations like CCH under the Feeding America national program when they approach their expiration or ‘freeze by’ date. Food Insecurity addresses people who struggle to feed their families.
Because of CCH’s involvement and its commitment to our community, we were best equipped to not only operate the program, but also to organize the network of recipients to have the widest impact. CCH began its Food Rescue Initiative (‘FRI’) on January 1, 2019, with its pilot program. During this time, with funding through Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte and the Duneland Health Council, CCH was able to purchase its own refrigeration truck rather than renting trucks. In 2019, 2020 and 2021, CCH has procured and distributed over two million pounds of food, free to the community. This is done through CCH’s delivery network to 34 soup kitchens, food pantries and shelters in seven cities throughout LaPorte County. To increase access and availability to a basic need like food through FRI, improvement to quality of life is the result. In addition, CCH facilitates outdoor mobile food pantry giveaway events for the USDA, Food Bank of Northern Indiana, United Way of LaPorte County and Morgan Stanley.
