Make a credit card on-line donation through the secured e-Tapestry link, click here >

Donate by Phone

Call the food bank directly to make a credit card donation over the phone: 317-925-0191 ext. 118, 127 or 119 for assistance. If you are unable to reach someone, dial 0 for the operator. Click here for contacts

Donate by Mail

Remittance form: Print this form and mail it with your donation to the food bank. Click here

Drop off donations

Virtual Food Drive

Food Drive Info Sheets

Vehicle Donations

How Your Gifts Will Help

Your donations—monetary, food, supplies and services...are receipted promptly by Gleaners and tax deductions apply as allowed by law.

Monetary Donations

With every dollar you donate, Gleaners Food Bank can distribute eight pounds of food and critical grocery products to those in need! It costs Gleaners less to process an on-line donation than a donation over the telephone using a credit card, yet it is just as safe and secure.

Financial Support...Operating Gleaners Food Bank costs money even though the food is donated. The costs average 14.5 cents per pound and include food recovery, transportation, quality assurance, inventory control, insurance, utilities, supervision and coordination of hundreds of volunteers, plus training and technical assistance for user charities, and community education.

Shared Maintenance...Gleaners helps charitable groups provide meals for the hungry. Agencies that are able contribute toward Gleaners 14.5 cents per pound cost by making "share contributions" up to 14 cents per pound. At the end of fiscal year 2006, 98% of the food bank's distribution was fully prepaid to agencies through gifts from the community.

Community Support...Generous individuals and businesses in our community provide 84% of Gleaners' operating costs! Without gifts from special events, direct mail, and other fund raising efforts, Gleaners could not exist.

Matching Gifts...Some employers, like Pitney Bowes and Eli Lilly & Company, match employee gifts to Gleaners on a dollar for dollar basis. The Matching Gifts Program is a great way for employees to double their gifts to Gleaners, a way for companies to encourage employee involvement in the food bank's efforts, and an excellent way to economically fight hunger.

Planned giving...A bequest in your will is a loving way to assure Gleaners' continued work on your behalf. In addition to being an important legacy, a bequest could offer generous tax advantages and can even help your estate pass tax free when it is settled. Besides cash gifts, you may also bequeath stocks, bonds and other property.

Foundations and Corporations...Grants awarded through corporations and foundations have allowed Gleaners to add an 110,000 cubic foot cooler and freezer unit, purchase warehouse equipment, implement new projects such as Kids Cafe, BackSacks and the Prepared and Perishable Food Rescue Program, provide training and nutritional education to user charities, and help distribute millions of pounds of food.

Government Support...Government support accounts for only 5.39% of the revenue received by Gleaners. Grants awarded help coordinate existing private and public food assistance programs, and help to improve nutrition services to low income people through education and outreach.

Food Donations

Gleaners Food Bank actively solicits and receives donations of products from all segments of the food industry. Growers, packers, processors, manufacturers, wholesalers, brokers and retailers donate for a variety of reasons including production errors, discontinued inventory and slight damage. Gleaners' Quality Control Unit screens all donated products for safety before distribution.

Local Donations...come from Indiana food companies: grocery stores like the Kroger Company; manufacturers such as Frito-Lay and Quaker Oats; distributors like Kraft, processors including Prairie Farms; produce wholesalers like Indianapolis Fruit; and food service vendors such as Calderon Brothers. These companies donate their surplus, outdated, discontinued, or distressed products to the food bank. Local donations carry an added importance because donors become a part of the solution to community hunger.

Hosting A Food Drive...Many companies, schools and churches will conduct canned food drives throughout the year. It is an easy way to donate food and a great way to help people become aware of the problems of hunger. Through food drives, people have a chance to share what they have with those who have less. Gleaners will help you make your food drive as simple and successful as possible. While there aren't any hard or fast rules to hosting a food drive, Gleaners has collected suggestions from other groups of what has worked for them. If you would like a copy, please call Carrie Fulbright at 317-925-0191 ext. 104.

The Good Samaritan Law...According to Indiana's Good Samaritan Law of 1991, donors are released from any liability when making donations to Gleaners unless the damages are the result of that person/ corporation's intentional, knowing or reckless misconduct. So, "Good Sam" protects those who want to help feed the hungry by granting immunity from civil suit, and that's good for everybody!

Because of this protection, many companies have established "Donate, Don't Dump" policies to ensure a responsible method of dealing with edible yet surplus or slightly damaged product.

If you are interested in establishing a "Donate, Don't Dump" policy for your company, please call Darren Boyd at 317-925-0191 ext. 108. You can also write to Darren at Gleaners Food Bank, 1102 East 16th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202.

Accountability...Food companies that select Gleaners to receive their product know that the donation will be handled with care. Throughout the distribution process, donors are guaranteed detailed product tracking, brand name integrity, superior food handling and storage, and timely distribution of donations. The food bank is inspected by food industry representatives, the local and state health departments, and America's Second Harvest to ensure safe food storage and handling procedures.

Companies that donate product can be confident that donations go only to people who need food assistance and that their gifts are never sold, bartered or traded.

In-Kind Donations

All In-Kind Donations must have this form completed in order to receive a proper tax receipt for the contribution. Please contact Penny VanArsdale at 317-925-0191 ext. 127 for additional information.

In-kind donations made to Gleaners include gifts of equipment, materials, supplies and services that help us operate day to day. These donations are very valuable to the food bank because they stretch the cash gifts we receive for the redistribution of donated products.

Gifts... Warehouse equipment, fork lifts, pallet jacks, pallet racks, office equipment, office supplies, computers and software are important tools the food bank uses to achieve its mission. Businesses and individuals can donate equipment being retired from inventory.

Services... Special gifts and talents are always needed for Gleaners' operation. Painting, plumbing, facility repairs, electrical work, landscaping, printing and design, transportation, and special expertise serve to alleviate some of the financial stress of the food bank.

Donate your old vehicle! Please submitt the form linked below, someone from Gleaners will contact you to make arrangements on receiving the vehicle. If it is determined that the food bank is unable to keep the vehicle for use with in the organization, it will be sold at auction and the monies will be given to Gleaners Food Bank. You will receive a receipt and tax forms after the sale. For more infomation, contact Becky Voelz at 317-925-0191 ext. 130 for more information. Click here to get the form needed. You do NOT need to submit the In-Kind form.