IGS Donates Refrigerated Truck to Help Bring Nourishment to People in Need
IGS, known for its generosity locally and across the country, has donated a refrigerated truck that will be used to bring more free and discounted food to people who are homeless and receiving help at Van Buren Center in west Columbus.
Funded by Community Shelter Board and operated by YMCA of Central Ohio, Van Buren Center is the largest shelter in Columbus. Breakfast and dinner are provided seven days a week at the center’s kitchen. An average of 837 meals were served daily last year.
"We're grateful that Community Shelter Board found resources to help us maximize access to food for the people we serve”, said Stephen Ives, President and CEO of YMCA of Central Ohio. “Thanks to this generous donation from IGS, we now have the means to take the maximum amount of free and reduced cost food from the Mid-Ohio Foodbank.”
The truck’s refrigeration will allow Community Shelter Board and YMCA of Central Ohio to access more fresh food in the most economical ways for the 680 families and 2,000 single men and women helped at Van Buren Center every year.
“IGS is an incredible partner that stepped up in a creative way to meet a critical need among the most vulnerable people in our community”, said Michelle Heritage, Executive Director of Community Shelter Board. “While in shelter, people have a safe and secure place to stay and access to nutritious food. With these basic needs met, they can better focus on finding housing and employment.”
“Homelessness can have a severe impact on nutrition and overall health”, said Scott White, president and CEO of IGS. “We learned that many people who are homeless eat fewer meals per day and go hungry more often. We’re happy to be part of the solution to reduce that stress on people who are already experiencing a crisis.”
Melissa Garver, development director for Community Shelter Board and Scott White, president and CEO of IGS
Community Shelter Board is the collective impact organization leading work to prevent and end homelessness in Columbus and Franklin County. They lead a comprehensive, coordinated approach that brings together diverse organizations to work as a system that delivers homelessness prevention, shelter, street outreach, rapid re-housing and permanent supportive housing. Last year, these programs served more than 12,000 people, including 2,500 children. Community Shelter Board is funded by the City of Columbus, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners, the United Way of Central Ohio, The Columbus Foundation, Nationwide Foundation, American Electric Power Foundation, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the State of Ohio, and many other public and private investors. To learn more, visit https://www.csb.org/.