Navient Foundation supports Indiana food banks

INDIANAPOLIS, May 01, 2018 -- Hundreds of people across Indiana who lack access to nutritious meals will continue to receive the support they need, thanks to Gleaners and Second Helpings, two food banks committed to helping eliminate food hunger and malnutrition.

According to Gleaners, 1 in 6 people in Central and Southeast Indiana struggle with hunger and food insecurity. Navient Foundation, the company-sponsored philanthropic fund, contributed a total of $12,500 to the food banks.

“Second Helpings transforms lives through the power of food,” said Amber Jett, manager of corporate and donor relations. “Support from organizations like Navient make it possible for us to send out 4,000 meals daily to more than 85 partner agencies and continue our job training program.”

Since 1998, volunteers and staff from Second Helpings have accepted donated perishable and overstocked food to prepare warm nutrition-packed meals.

In addition to providing meals, the nonprofit facilitates a free Culinary Job Training program. The program trains disadvantaged adults for careers in the food service industry. To date, 778 adults have graduated from the program.

“Gleaners and Second Helpings have impacted thousands of Hoosiers’ lives through job training programs and hot meals,” said Jon Kroehler, chief human resources officer, Navient. “We’re proud to contribute to the success of their missions in closing the food insecurity gap in our communities.”

Gleaners, founded in 1980, distributes prepared meals to pantries, soup kitchens and shelters across 21 counties in Indiana. The nonprofit offers several programs including Backsacks that keeps children fed during the weekends and Senior Hunger Initiative for senior citizens who have special dietary needs.

“Thanks to operational efficiencies and the scope of our operations, Gleaners is able to provide three meals for every dollar received,” said Sarah Estell, senior director of communication and digital strategy, Gleaners. “The Navient gift will allow us to provide a meal for 30,000 hungry Hoosiers.”

The city of Indianapolis and Gleaners recently partnered to pilot the Community Action Relief Effort or CARE program. The program is a citywide effort to provide sacks of fresh groceries to military families and veterans in underserved communities.

Find out more about Gleaners and Second Helpings on their websites.

Connect with @Navient on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Medium.

About Navient
Navient (Nasdaq:NAVI) is a leading provider of asset management and business processing solutions for education, health care and government clients at the federal, state and local levels. The company helps its clients and millions of Americans achieve financial success through services and support. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, Navient also employs team members in western New York, northeastern Pennsylvania, Indiana, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, California and other locations. Learn more at navient.com.

Contact:
Media: Brianna Huff, 302-283-2973, [email protected]

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