Fifth Third Bank Pasta Drive Targets Hungry Across Indiana

Feed Our Comm Logo - smallFifth Third Bank, with over 100 financial centers in Indiana, is collecting pasta and cash donations throughout April to combat hunger in our state, with the noble goal of serving one million meals through its annual Feeding Our Communities initiative. See how you can help:

The Feeding Our Communities Greater Indiana Pasta Drive will collect boxes of pasta from now through the month of April. Each pound of pasta or dollar donated will serve four people, with all proceeds primarily benefiting Second Helpings in Indianapolis, Tri-State Food Bank in Evansville and Community Harvest in Fort Wayne. The collection area includes locations in Southern Illinois and Western Kentucky as well.

The local food drive is part of a larger hunger initiative held across the 12-state footprint of Fifth Third Bank as part of its Fifth Third Day (May 3) celebration. For more than 20 years, Fifth Third has dedicated Fifth Third Day to volunteerism and giving back to the community, specifically through campaigns to combat hunger. In 2015, employees and customers provided 800,000 meals as a result of the campaign.

“At Fifth Third, we’re committed to having the broadest impact possible to our customers and our communities,” said Steven Alonso, president and CEO of Fifth Third’s Greater Indiana region. “Food insecurity in Indiana is a serious issue, and this Pasta Drive is a simple way people can contribute and understand they truly are making a difference.”

In Indiana, more than one million residents (including one in six children) face food insecurity, meaning they may not have the money or resources to get the proper nutrition each day.
Customers and employees in Greater Indiana contributed more than 72,000 servings of pasta to the event last year. To donate, customers can simply bring pasta or donations to any Fifth Third Bank location. Collection boxes will be on site.

Second Helpings, a food rescue, hunger relief and job training organization serving the Indianapolis area, has partnered with Fifth Third Bank and Rev Indy, a VIP, red carpet event on May 7 highlighting the top restaurants and driver-inspired cuisine in the city. Fifth Third is the title sponsor the event, which raises funds for trauma centers supported by the IU Methodist Health Foundation. Second Helpings will rescue all food from the Rev event and repurpose it to feed the hungry in the area.

Tri-State Food Bank in Evansville and Community Harvest in Fort Wayne both have a long history of serving their respective communities. Tri-State currently services 33 counties in three states and Community Harvest of Northeast Indiana provides more than 13 million pounds of food each week to its service area.