Q&A with Gleaners Food Bank

Published June 28, 2022

In our Member Spotlight this month, we chatted with the team at Gleaners about President/CEO John Elliott’s retirement, the naming of his successor, Fred Glass, and the organization’s ambitious Milk Campaign.

You recently launched your 2022 “Winners Give Milk” campaign this May to raise money to donate one million gallons of milk to Hoosiers in need. Can you give us an update on where you stand with that goal and how the GIPC community can help?

Gleaners: Milk is one of the most requested items for the neighbors we serve, and also one of the least common items offered at food pantries. The average food-insecure person in the US receives just two gallons of milk a year. We decided to set a bold goal to distribute one million gallons of milk to neighbors facing food insecurity in our 21-county service area this year. We’re about ¼ of our way to that goal. The GIPC community can help by spreading the word and donating both funds to purchase milk and time to volunteer distributing it at our pantries this summer. Visit gleaners.org/milk to learn more.

Why is milk so important to the health and well-being of Hoosiers?

Gleaners: We know that milk is nutritious, providing nutrients that nourish both brain and body. Dairy products can promote health, help manage weight, and reduce the risk for high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and some cancers. Many children don’t get enough potassium and calcium in their diets, making milk an ideal beverage for growing youngsters.

What did the pandemic teach you about the people you serve and what lessons will you carry into the future when you look to best respond to the needs of the community?

Gleaners: Going into the pandemic, Gleaners had one way that we served our hungry neighbors—our on-site pantry, the Community Cupboard. Quickly, we realized that this wasn’t sufficient to meet the needs of those who were counting on us. As a result, programs such as home delivery, drive-thru distributions, and Gleaners2Go, our online ordering system with curbside pickup, have been added. We also learned that despite our best efforts, we weren’t as accessible and equitable as we would like to be. One method of service became four. Learning and collaborative work with organizations such as the Immigrant Welcome Center, Indy Urban League, and other community organizations began in earnest and continues. We’re offering medically tailored Family Meal Boxes for those with diabetes and high blood pressure in partnership with Eskenazi Health and funded by a grant from the Anthem Foundation. We also reaffirmed some things that we did know—that food insecurity is a symptom of a larger issue in our neighbors’ lives. It could be health or transportation, education or lack of affordable housing. Gleaners has a responsibility to partner with organizations addressing these and other social determinants of health, and we are committed to do so.

There’s a leadership change coming in the next few months at Gleaners, with John Elliott stepping down as President and CEO and Fred Glass being announced as his successor. Are there any long-term goals you can share for your organization?


Gleaners: Gleaners has been fortunate to have very strong leadership over our 42-year history. John has offered transformational leadership during his six-year tenure, leading an ambitious strategic planning process that will be reaffirmed by our Board later this year. In 2017, we launched Fresh Connect Central, a regional co-op that Gleaners operates for Feeding America that began with a focus on produce and now is also offering dairy and protein. Over the years, John’s focus on the Gleaners’ culture has been critical to our ability to respond in crises like COVID, but also to have the confidence to innovate at all levels of the organization. Fred brings a wealth of experience as a collaborator and organizer, and a lifelong commitment to feeding those in need. While he doesn’t officially start until September 1, he has already been meeting with employees, Board members, and other key stakeholders. His focus on values-based leadership is a perfect fit for the culture we’ve nurtured over the past several years.