INDIANAPOLIS — Nearly 30,000 pounds of food was collected during the 2013 Pack the Pantries food drive. That amount more than doubles last year’s collection and sets the record for the most food collected in a single Pack the Pantries campaign.
As part of the announcement, Mayor Ballard led the annual Caravan of Care from the City-County Building to Gleaners Food Bank to deliver the donations. All donations were loaded on an IFD fire truck and Department of Public Works vehicles for the caravan.
The 2013 Pack the Pantries campaign included collection events at the Circle of Lights celebration, Garfield Park and the City Sidewalks event on Georgia Street.
An additional 43,000 pounds of food were collected through Pack the Pantries partners, including 40,000 Pounds of Giving, KIPP Indianapolis College Preparatory school, Eli Lilly & Co. and Jam the Jaguar at IUPUI.
The 2013 Pack the Pantries campaign launched Oct. 25 at KIPP Indianapolis College Preparatory school. Both Gleaners and Midwest Food Banks will distribute all donations to local food pantries serving Marion County. Pack the Pantries is operated by the Indianapolis Front Porch Alliance.