I have volunteered and truly enjoyed the experience. They do a great job of bringing people together to help the community.
Food finders is a Godsend for our community. Our local staff is 2nd to none with compassion, work ethic and just great people. Thank you Food finders for all that you do.
Food Finders Food Bank and it’s staff and volunteers provide a much-needed service to the community and help so many individuals and families who struggle with food shortages. They are kind, compassionate and driven in their work and dedication to enduring everyone has the food they need.
5 star all the way. Kier and her team at Food Finders Food Bank always go above and beyond! I highly recommend!
Food Finders knows the community, loves the community, is the community. They have this perfect combination of ingenuity and genuine care for the people of Lafayette. Lafayette is a better place to live because of the volunteers, staff, clients and donors at Food Finders.
Food Finders Food Bank is such an important and necessary resource in our community. They are ensuring access to one of the most basic human needs - food. They are fighting against food insecurity in several surrounding counties, providing classes, and giving hope.
Food Finders Food Bank is such an amazing resource for this community. They nourish our community with food, knowledge, and care.
I've been both a recipient and volunteer (through our church). This is one of the most caring groups of people I know.
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I first started receiving help from Food Finders Mobile Pantry, I didn't want to. I was proud and didn't want to admit I needed help. But I would take my niece, who eventually talked me into it. Fast forward, and now, even though I still receive, I've stepped up to volunteer when our church hosts it. And I love it.
I have volunteered and donated to Food Finders Food Bank in several capacities over the last 10 years or so. I am consistently in awe of their commitment to serving their 16-county service area in a thoughtful and efficient manner. FFFB has gone to great lengths to educate both clients and community through classes and connecting them to other resources. I know that when I give my time or money to FFFB I am making an immediate impact on a neighbors quality of life!
I have helped in the Food Pantry several times and always enjoy each experience. The staff is very knowledgeable, friendly, and always thankful for the extra hands to distribute the food to clients each day. I have also worked on the Blue Jean Ball fundraiser soliciting donations from local businesses. Food Finders has such an excellent reputation in the our community that soliciting from businesses is easier because you say the word "Food Finders" and they know the donation is going a long way to help our county and the surrounding 16 counties that they serve.
I am proud to be a part of such wonderful organization. The staff given above and beyond for those in our communites that need their help. They are always looking for ways to improve on what they are doing. Great Great group of people!!
Terrific organization in our community! Provides not only a good resource but resources to encourage growth and development for the future!
I have been involved with this community organization for several years, and in many different capacities. In every new way I am involved with the organization, I am continually impressed with the team, their commitment to their mission, and their tremendous impact on the community.
Not only is the work amazing that Food Finders is doing, their emphasis on quality and their genuine care for the people they serve is unmatched. We are so lucky to have them in our community!
I have volunteered at this food banks on and off for 4 years. After working at another social service agency in Lafayette, I can confidently say that Food Finders is one of the best run agencies in Lafayette, if not the State of Indiana. I will continue to support them with my time and money for many years to come.
I worked with Food Finders for years co-chairing the backpack program for our elementary school, and now my daughters volunteer there and it's their favorite place to serve. They are caring people and a great organization. Grateful to have their leadership in our community.
Shout out to Food Finders Food Bank! They do great things to end hunger in 17 counties in Indiana. As a financial donor, I am always impressed with how many people they are serving on a daily basis. Thank you, Food Finders!!
Food Finders Food Bank is one of the best run charities I have ever supported. I have volunteered there to see it in action and they treat customers and volunteers alike with respect, dignity and courtesy. I am very impressed and have become a regular donor. I love to see my dollars supporting an organization that does Christ's work in such a beautiful way!
Food Finders Food Bank is welcoming to volunteers and people in need of food. They offer low-barrier help to people in the community. Thank you for all you do, Food Finders!
Food-finders is an awesome place! Emmaus Mission Center in Logansport, In depends on Food-finders to keep our shelves filled for our clients. In today's world more and more people need our help with food, we're thankful we can fill those needs via food-finders and our local donors. I had the privilege to go there once to pick up food, everyone was courteous and helpful. The classes they offer are so helpful to those who don't have a clue about cooking healthy meals. I manage the Emmaus Face-book page and often share posts from Food-finders with our readers. Thankful, very thankful for this organization.
I have been going to Food Finders for about a year now. I started going because family and friends familiar with my financial situation, encouraged me to go because they have had such good experiences. At first I was a little hesitant, never having done it before, but that subsided quickly. The volunteers have always been so kind and helpful. Every volunteer is always smiling, positive attitudes and so helpful. Even helping you take your items to your vehicle . They truly go above and beyond to help . Then there is the abundance of food that you get!!!!! I have been able to have plenty of food thinks to your organization . Without your help I hate to think what I would be able to afford. One month I was really hoping for maybe a 5 lb. bag of potatoes. HA!!! I got a 15 lb bag of HUGE beautiful baking potatoes!!!!! Your generosity has also allowed me to share with others who could use the help. And I tell people regularly about your food truck visits. Thank you for the wonderful service that you do!!!!! I am so grateful and thankful for all that you do!!!!!!
I believe that you are doing a great job in helping to feed America . God is watching and He is being blessed by you blessing others.
Since I have started going to Food Finders Food Pantry when I run short thru out the month with pantry on Greenbush in Lafayette I live the other food pantries for others. What I recieve for 1 day lasts me 2 or more plus I go to the mobile food trucks when they email me and that is plenty enough to help offset my food stamps. Sometimes when I have an over abundance I turn around and pay it forward to a few of my neighbors with children I know that need the help also. I alo spread the word around the park the day before the truck so that everyone can find a ride to get there. I am also a volunteer because I believe in giving back in any way possible that I can.
Food Finders not only distributes food to many food pantries in Lafayette but also has their own food pantry open 5 days a week. They really care about the people who can't afford enough food. They also offer classes and have resource coordinators to help clients.
They are helping my mom have groceries in the house. I didn't see anything they could have improved on.
I wish they could give more meat. They do very well serving us that needs some food. Greatly appreciated it. Hopefully you guys can do it more often.
Our organization has been thoroughly impressed with Food Finders Food Bank, Inc. for several years. The interactions with the staff via phone, email, and in person is always extremely professional. We receive communications well in advance for food deliveries, mobile food pantry days, etc. allowing us to plan accordingly. Food Finders has been a great partner to help us relieve food insecurities in our local community.
The Athens Community Church had a dream of expanding their "bookcase pantry ministry" and after contacting "The Cross" in Rochester, Indiana and taking a tour of their operation, Pastor Wanda Carter and Sue Horn of the Athens Community church decided to take a step in faith by opening "Mike's Market" in honor of Sue Horn's deceased Pastor Husband, who passed away with the dream of a full-fledged pantry unfulfilled. The Cross agreed to provide assistance through delivering food to "Mike's Market" monthly due to a grant they had received to help other pantries in the area. After a successful start, Pastor Wanda and Sue attended informational meetings and visited area pantries and learned of "Food Finders" as an additional source of supply. After contacting Food Finders and completing necessary paper work and meeting with Briton Weise and receiving approval of their application, The Athens Community Church was able to purchase food from the Lafayette warehouse and have it delivered to "The Cross" in Rochester where Athens Volunteers were able to pick it up and transport it to Mike's Market at Athens. We've found the folks at Food Finders to be most helpful in helping with orders and making it easy for us to learn the necessary program for ordering. We've never felt intimidated by personnel or by necessary record keeping. Our impression of Food Finders is "They want us to succeed" and be able to feed those around us who need assistance. We can't really say enough about their help and their desire to help feed America......one little piece at a time.
Pastor Wanda Carter & Sue Horn, director.
Food Finders is terrific. They gather so much good food from farmer's markets, supermarkets, and restaurants, and distribute to the community. They also set up lunches for kids during summer break when they might go hungry without school lunches.
I have volunteered in the pantry at Food Finders , although my primary role is as a volunteer community educator. Offering a varied and relevant series of classes for the community makes Food Finders unique among food pantries. Classes offerings range from healthy nutrition and smart shopping choices to conflict and stress management to workplace preparation. The environment at Food Finders is friendly and supportive. Food Finders is a "go to" place in the community for many who are challenged with food scarcity and other life issues. As a volunteer, I love going there because I am treated with respect and appreciation by staff and community members attending classes. It's a wonderful resource for Lafayette and a wonderful place to volunteer.
Beth Goodman
I love the classes, especially the ones pertaining to food. I've found a lot of great information on different types/styles of making meals. The Food Pantry helps me make great choices since I don't take the "desserts" but just the healthy stuff. This gives me more money to spend on food that isn't normally stocked like milk, bananas, etc.
Like a lot. Of people my wife &myself.Are on a fix income and cannot go to the store all the time. So with the pantry s and the mobile food truck is a great help.
The pantry serves so many people. Food Finders offers endless volunteer opportunities as well and this is great for the community and the individuals wanting to help make a difference in their neighborhood.
Food Finders is one of the best non-profits in Tippecanoe County. From quality staff to effective programs, FF is literally front line help for those that struggle to afford basic food, as well as resource support for a network of other food pantries and programs that reach out to those in need. Excellent organization with a heart for people.
I got to know about this pantry through a friend and on my first visit, I was impressed at there service. They attend to every one as if they are been paid to serve. They are fully out there to assist every one within there capacity and what they have at there disposal. They put smile on everyone that comes to the pantry face. No matter how little it maybe sometimes you'll be glad when leaving.
Dada Ademola A.
I am, a counselor and I counsel the mentally ill . they have their special needs and it is hard for them to reach the sites of distribution sometimes so I take them or even I go on their behalf. the drivers and the distributors are always willing to help, the food is nice and frozen and the line goes pretty smoothly most of the time. they come tot he sites on time; assemble and dismantle very efficiently.the staff at food finders works very hard and experience the nature elements just like the people in the line and make sure that the tables are replenished in a good way to facilitate the timeliness of the distribution. unfortunately the meat/dairy distribution is not always available or in sufficient quantities to serve a family of four or larger. keeping in mind that seniors live with their children quite commonly.. over all, food finder is excellent and serve with dignity and Christian attitude. I personally want to be able to join food finders and get my food through paying food finder myself and picking the food in Lafayette. I have left several messages to the staff in charge and did not get an answer yet.. I have my own counseling practice. I am credentialed. I wish them continued success and the very best in their effort to serve the population.
The Samaritan Love Center could not have Survived without the help of FOOD FINDERS. We have for many years received free food, as well as have bought food and other necessities from them. We can't thank them enough for all the help they have given us. I urge all pantries to get involved with them. The staff is kind, considerate and always willing to help you.
Everything is going well with Food Finders but some of the Volunteers need more training on how the Food Pantry works to ensure a more smoother transitions for the clients.
They aren't just focused on getting food on the table. They care about educating clients for long term food security.
Food finders is doing groundbreaking work to connect their clients to resources, while increasing the service of their proven successful programs. Keep up the great work!
The pantry serves so many people. Food Finders offers endless opportunities for clients to gain access to food, knowledge and better resources. They continue to advance and move forward in improving our community.
Food Finders serves the community in a big way. Fighting hunger and giving hope to families in need makes a difference in Greater Lafayette and beyond!
They do awesome providing for the community. They could do better on trying to reach the public that may not have access to telecommunications.
As a member agency of Food Finders Food Bank Inc, the Emmaus Mission Center in Logansport, Indiana has benefited, for many years, from the free government commodities and low cost food items for purchase through Food Finders Food Bank. Our food pantry serves upwards of 550 families per month, and food purchased from Food Finders, along with the connections that Food Finders has helped us establish in our local community with food retailers, has kept us well provided with products to distribute to our friends and neighbors in need. Food Finders' staff are benevolent and helpful and we very much appreciate all the education and assistance they offer us to allow us to better help others.
Food Finders has been a great resource for our organization! They have provided us support in many ways from donating food items to providing volunteers to help educate our clients on nutrition-related topics! We are lucky to have them in our community!
I have volunteered with Food Finders for a number of years working closely with all levels of the organization. They are close to my heart because they serve a fundamental need-hunger. This organization has grown significantly over the years, but especially under the the current director who is driven to meet the needs of the ever increasing numbers of needy families. She has surrounded herself with a like minded team. Whether working with the volunteer manager or one of the route drivers, they are dedicated to the Food Finder's mission. The director and her team are constantly finding and implementing new and better strategies to procure and distribute food, as well as methods to teach subjects such as nutrition and health. This is an outstanding organization operated by an outstanding group of individuals dedicated to wonderful cause. Thank you Food Finders
I am the pastor of Congress Street United Methodist Church in Lafayette and we partnered with Food Finders a year ago as we set-out to open a food pantry at the newly re-opened Oakland Elementary School. It's been a wonderful partnership for free or very reduced-cost product for our pantry.
I work in social services in the counties served by the Food Finders Food Bank and their mobile sites. Most of my clients struggle to make ends meet and Food Finders is an essential lifeline for those in need. SNAP benefits don't go as far as needed and local food pantries often have restrictive rules limiting families to one trip a month. Without Food Finders, more children would do without food. I am thankful to have their services available as an option.
Our team from work went over to help with packaging of food for distribution and It was a well organized system. The facility was clean, well kept and the staff was very nice. It is a pleasure to say that we helped with such a great outreach to our community.
Food Finders Food Bank (FFFB) offers a variety of areas for anyone to help, which is part of what makes it a great organization. I have had many opportunities to sort and label food for distribution with my team from work, which is great for team building for any work group.
I also reached out the them to see where my sons Cub Scout group could help. FFFB helped identify about a half dozen areas/Projects that they could help our community outside the FFFB facilities since they were to young to be in one of their facilities.
Our scouts were able collect food donations totaling over 400lbs the last couple years. The food drive for our scouts has become a great tradition for our entire pack.
Our scouts also made laundry detergent for FFFB, which is needed for several FFFB clients in our local area on a monthly basis. The scouts had to first collect plastic bottles for the detergent which aligns with our efforts to teach the scouts about the importance of recycling. Our den was able to produce 234 bottles of detergent for FFFB. We now plan to expand this to our entire Scout Pack in the future.
The opportunities that FFFB has provided for our scouts has helped educate them on the importance of helping out and giving back to our community. The scouts learned that there are a variety of ways they can help as an individuals and the importance of giving back to their community. They also experience first hand how big of an impact they can make when they team up to help others.
Food Finders has been a great help to our campus ministry. They opened their doors to us on a Sunday morning so that we could "Workship" there; volunteering to repackage food, then staying for worship. We have also hosted a Food Finder's Mobile Pantry in the parking lot of our church. They are able to provide hands -on volunteer opportunities for our students, while sharing the political and social reasons why there are so many food insecure people in our community.
I have now volunteered for a number of days at Food Finders. I find this organization is very well organized and managed with the focus on delivering food to where the need is.
I am proud to say I volunteer and work with this organization.
This week I had the opportunity to dedicate some of my time at the local Food Finders Food Bank, Inc. in Lafayette, IN. Food Finders is responsible for distributing food not only to Tippecanoe county, but to fifteen surrounding counties in Indiana as well. The program is funded by the United Way, grants, foundations, corporate sponsors, USDA, and private donors. These organizations help Food Finders distribute more than 7 million pounds of food annually to non profit organizations that work to alleviate hunger throughout North-Central Indiana. They do this through a variety of programs. The Agency Partner Program is responsible for providing the single largest source of food for over 160 hunger relief agencies such as soup kitchens, food pantries, and shelters. The mobile pantry outreach program has a “farmers market” style distribution. Food Finders takes a truck load of food across the central 16 counties to efficiently reach the Hoosiers who need it most. The Senior Grocery Program provides for seniors who are in need and have special dietary restrictions. This helps if they are unable to utilize certain food resources such as pantries and soup kitchens or if they have mobility issues. Another helpful outreach initiative is the Backpack Program. Shockingly every 1 out of 5 kids in Indiana alone struggles with hunger. Even with free or reduced lunch programs, these children have no food on the weekends. This program dedicates a backpack of food so the children have something to eat between Friday afternoon and Monday morning. Food Finders is responsible for over 4,000 backpacks each week. A majority of these programs are not possible without the help of volunteers.
Walking in to Food Finders Food Bank, Inc. I was not aware of the impact a single person can make in an organization such as this. First, I was introduced to a few staff members and about 8 other volunteers ready to make a difference. My assignment for the day was to package Pinto beans from a large 2000 lb. sack, into smaller 2lb. portion sizes where the bag was then sealed and placed in a box ready to distribute. Before I began, I had to apply a disposable hair net, gloves, and even an apron. Although, the task was as easy as dividing and weighing this mass of beans into small 2lb. packages, I still felt that what I was doing could potentially be making an impact on someone’s life. By the end of the day I was solely responsible for about 100 bags of Pinto beans ready to be sent to people in need.
By participating in this service learning activity it opened my eyes to not only the hunger issues of the world, but the very issues that are happening right where I live. I am now aware that 20% of children in the state I was born and raised has issues getting one of the main necessities of life. This not only deeply saddened me about my fellow Hoosiers, but it also brought to light how important this issue is globally. If children in the United States are having trouble eating, I can only imagine the trouble this issue is causing on a global scale. I am thankful I never had to grow up with such a tragedy, but now I am aware the impact this holds with the rest of the world. I am thankful that I had an opportunity to make a difference even if it was only 100 bags of pinto beans. I hope that some day the people of the world can take a few hours out of their week to volunteer for a good cause like Food Finders.
I've volunteered here many times in the past few years, helping in both a warehouse and distribution setting. I always have a great experience. The instructions are very clear, the work is not too physically demanding, the people are very nice, and I always feel appreciated.
Signing up is easy (every time you sign up, you are committing to one day, one time, it is easy to cancel if you need to, and you can sign up for as many events as you want), and there are so many options for time slots and activities. There really is something for everyone.
I would recommend volunteering here to anyone. I have brought several of my friends along with me, and all of them have enjoyed the experience, too.
The first time I signed up to volunteer I did not know what to expect. Everyone at Food Finders is so genuinely nice and accommodating! The experience makes you want to keep coming back to volunteer again and again. Its a wonderful organization and I am so happy to be able to volunteer on site and look forward to meeting new volunteers each week. Food Finders makes the process of volunteering so easy. It's such a rewarding feeling to know you are helping others.
I truly believe in the mission of food finders and all of the good that this company does it the 16 counties that they serve. The business side of things need to change. It is sad when the executive director thinks that she is better than everyone and belittles all of the staff. They fire people all of the time for no good reasoning other than a friends of theirs may need a job. Directors there have said anyone and everyone is replaceable. If people knew what went on behind those walls they would honestly think differently. There are some people that know the truth but are to afraid to speak up for what is right, the turn over rate in the last 12 months is around 87%-110%. That should say something all in itself.
We have volunteered at several kinds of the activities with our children too: the organizers are always very helpful, organized and friendly. It makes the work of lifting and sharing easy and effective. We are so grateful to them each and every time. It is safe and friendly for families to get involved in the community.
Please keep up the great work.
kpuetz 05/29/2020
Thank you for your kind words and support of the food bank Terry39!