Local companies Polar King International and Thermodyne Foodservice Products together with the North America Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM) have combined to provide a $10,000 donation to the Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana, according to Dave Schenkel, Polar King president.

“It’s a part of NAFEM’s matching fund program to provide 15 million meals for those fighting hunger across the United States,” said Schenkel. “Vince Tippman’s charitable trust in concert with Polar King, Thermodyne and NAFEM have made this donation to our region’s finest food bank.”

NAFEM matches NAFEM member contributions up to $500,000. As of July 1, members have contributed $48,810 worth of time, money and food directly to their local food banks. NAFEM has matched the dollar amount and sent $48,810 to Feeding America to distribute to local food banks.

It is forecasted that Feeding America will help provide about 5 million meals to people struggling with hunger. According to NAFEM, it’s also matching member financial donations and volunteer time to their local Feeding America member food banks, up to another $500,000. Together, the goal is to provide about 15 million meals in 2020. This is where the Community Harvest Food Bank fits into the picture.

“We’re so grateful for this gift,” exclaimed Katie Savoie, Director of Development with the Community Harvest Food Bank. “The funding in the past few months has been such an important part of COVID-19 hunger relief efforts. The $10,000 provided will help us give over 40,000 meals to families in need during these tough times. Since 1983, our mission has been to alleviate hunger, and it is even true today.

“In the history of the Harvest Food Bank, we have been designated a disaster responder. But the world was not prepared for this unprecedented health crisis and global economic lockdown,” according to Savoie. “We’ve seen about triple the demand for services, and we have been incredibly humbled and fortunate to have the support of the National Guard, donors and volunteers who help to get the food to people. We’re able to meet the need by working together.”

According to the food bank, contributions like this one mean that families don’t have to go without food. Kids, seniors, veterans and families are all struggling right now. This support means their next meal is one less thing they need to worry about.

“When the food bank began, community members were distributing food from the trunks of their cars,” said Carmen Cumberland, Community Harvest Executive President. “Today, we are distributing food into the trunks of families’ cars during this unprecedented health and economic crisis. We are so grateful for the support to operate programs that immediately impact and benefit individuals and families in northeast Indiana.”