Distributing 1,600,000 pounds of fresh produce in 2004!

Dare to Care Food Bank is delivering fresh produce daily to agencies serving people in need of food assistance throughout the Metro Louisville area. Dare to Care’s “Produce People Care” Program is in its 8th year and has grown from 200,000 pounds distributed in the first year to 1,600,000 pounds for the year ending June 30, 2004. The success of this program depends on the generous donations of local produce companies and also national produce companies through the solicitation efforts of America’s Second Harvest. The program also needs and receives financial support from Philip Morris, UPS, and Kroger. This financial support enabled us to purchase a new refrigerated produce truck and to hire a full time employee to pick-up and deliver produce daily. Other expenses include packaging and transportation costs. All of these fine companies are concerned with the problems of nutrition for the poor and needy and we thank them very much.

Each morning, our produce coordinator is out soliciting fresh produce from local produce companies. These companies are committed to helping Dare to Care Food Bank fulfill its mission of providing food to those in need of food assistance, and that is why we named our produce program “Produce People Care”. After picking up produce, our refrigerated truck returns the fruits and vegetables to our warehouse for sorting. Some is placed in the cooler for agencies that pick up at the warehouse. Then, the truck leaves to make scheduled deliveries. On Mondays, we deliver to Southern Indiana – New Albany one week and Jeffersonville the next. On Tuesdays, the truck goes to the West End of Louisville. Wednesdays, the agencies in the Downtown area receive produce. On Thursdays, deliveries are made to the eastern and southern parts of our service area on alternating weeks. These areas include Shively and Valley Station on the southside. Friday, we deliver fresh produce to public housing sites located throughout the Metro Louisville area.

Produce People Care is a great partnership of local companies, national corporations, and Dare to Care Food Bank. Working together, we are getting good, nutritious produce to people in need of assistance.