On the east side of Indianapolis, Iglesia Tierra Prometida is serving double the number of neighbors since opening nine years ago.

“I came to this community in 2017, and I never thought of all the help that this community needed,” said Angel Morell, who is the church’s pastor.

At the church, Thursday evenings are about far more than food. They’re about dignity, welcome, and a growing community that shows up for one another week after week.

In just two years, this church-led pantry has expanded rapidly, serving nearly 380 families each week, and much of that growth is rooted in a simple but powerful idea: meet people where they are, and give them real choice in what they bring home.

“We distribute all kinds of foods like fruits, vegetables, canned goods and meats. All kinds of foods that we are allowed to distribute, we give here at ITP,” Angel said.

To meet the need, they’re leveraging a unique service offered through Feeding America. Direct Agency Pickup (DAP) is a program that allows Gleaners’ network partners to pick up donated food straight from major food processors or retailers, like Walmart and Sam’s Club.

This convenient pickup method gives pantries access to a wider variety of foods, often including fresh items, baked goods, and specialty products. For ITP, that has been transformative in getting fresh produce and protein to a community who needs it.

“We get a lot of meats right now,” said Angel. “Those really help us provide more nutritious options to our community.”

Mari Morell, Director of Operations at the ITP pantry, is often the first face people see when they visit the pantry.

“To receive DAP is a great help. I think if we didn’t have the help of Gleaners, we wouldn’t be able to provide this help to our community. Our neighbors love what we give and everyone leaves very happy with their groceries,” Mari said.

In addition to being trusted DAP partners, Walmart and Sam’s Club have long supported Gleaners and the Feeding America network through its Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign. 2026 marked the 13th year for the campaign. Throughout the campaign, supporters can donate online or shop in stores to give money back to their local Feeding America food bank.

Since 2014, the campaign has has helped secure more than 2.3 billion meals for people facing hunger. You can learn more about the Fight Hunger, Spark Change campaign here.