Second Helpings distributed more than 2 million meals in one year

INDIANAPOLIS — Leaders and volunteers reflected on the difference they’re making in the community during a press conference on Thursday.

“In the past year we distributed more than 2 million meals. Two million meals!” Jennifer Vigran, chief executive officer of Second Helpings, said.

March 18 marked one year since the organization served its first “Grab-and-Go” meal in response to the pandemic.

Since then, the organization has helped countless Hoosiers get through the COVID-19 crisis. A mission that continues.

Vigran says meeting the increased demand for meals and food has truly been a community effort.

“We forged new partnerships. We have never been closer to Gleaners Food Bank … than we are right now,” she said. ‘We shared resources. They shared with us, we shared with them. We worked together on strategy, and on problem-solving. It has really been a partnership because we knew that we all had to do this together.”

In an average year, Second Helpings would make around 1 million meals. That doubled during the pandemic.