Solar Energy Viability at Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana
As the largest hunger relief organization in Indiana, Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana is dedicated to leading the fight against hunger for Hoosiers by distributing as much food as possible while investing in nutritious options to support the overall health and wellbeing of their clients. According to Feeding America’s 2020 Map the Meal Gap data, 16.1% of individuals living within Gleaners’ 21 county service area are currently experiencing the harsh realities of food insecurity, otherwise defined as a lack of a reliable source of food to support basic nutrition needs and an overall healthy lifestyle. This equates to nearly 360,000 people, adults and children, living with chronic hunger.
Gleaners Food Bank of IN is interested in exploring what an investment in solar energy would look like and how it might create additional opportunities for the organization. Gleaners is actively involved in trying to salvage and distribute all types of food products and therefore gladly accepts the responsibility for being an environmentally sustainable and responsible leader in the communities they serve. Solar energy is another aspect of how Gleaners can commit to reducing its overall environmental footprint and become a more sustainable operation. They want to further explore if solar energy may even attract additional donors while also allowing Gleaners to reallocate energy costs to focus directly on the mission to end hunger. The students are conducting an in-depth analysis of all potential considerations surrounding an investment in solar energy.