Food Bank History

Community Harvest Food Bank was established in 1983 as a response to the closure of the International Harvester plant that sent thousands into unemployment. Social service agencies, churches, and faith-based organizations were overwhelmed with requests for assistance and people were finding it difficult to feed their families. During the first year of operation, Community Harvest distributed 200,000 pounds of food to the hungry.

In 1984, the food bank became incorporated as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Today, we are the regional food bank for northeast Indiana, serving the counties of Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells, and Whitley.

Since 1983, Community Harvest has grown to become a nationally recognized regional food bank within the Feeding America network, and is also a proud regional member of Indiana’s State Association of Food Banks. Today, millions of pounds of food are distributed each year to children, seniors, Veterans, and families in need of assistance. Community Harvest distributes food both through in-house hunger relief programs and through partner nonprofit agencies that receive food from the Community Harvest warehouse.

In August 2015, Community Harvest became the first regional food bank in the United States to open a blanch, chill, and freeze produce preservation facility. The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Produce Preservation Center allows us to preserve the bountiful harvest to distribute to hungry families year round. While the heart of our mission is to alleviate hunger, we also strive to provide nourishment and increase overall health and quality of life.