Nonprofit Second Helpings has rescued 50 million pounds of food, according to an announcement made Wednesday.

The organization aims to combat hunger in central Indiana with sustainable practices. That 50 million pounds of food saved equates to preventing the emissions from more than 13,000 cars driven by one person in a year.

As a part of their Food Rescue Program, they collect food items from spots all over the city and its surrounding areas and transform them into meals to be distributed.

“Food rescue is everything to us,” Jon Meinert, food rescue and transportation director, said Wednesday. “It’s picking up surplus from something as small as a Chick-Fil-A restaurant, on up to working with the Colts, and Pacers, and Ruoff (Music Center), and everything in between.”

After picking up that surplus, the food is processed in their kitchen and then distributed all throughout the city. Oftentimes, 5,000 meals a day are given away to women, children and older people.

Second Helpings’ local approach has helped it reach the milestone number in 25 years, but they are already looking toward their next goal.

CEO Linda Broadfoot said Wednesday, “I am willing to bet it will take half that time to rescue the next 50 million pounds of food.”

The organization also received an $100,000 grant from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation to continue the program’s growth.

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WISH-TV is committed to focusing on family and the community, and that includes working to make sure every family gets healthy meals. One aspect of nutrition that many don’t think about is how it can play a role in patient healing.

Nancy Strange, a senior clinical dietician at IU Health Methodist Hospital’s Comprehensive Wound Center, joined News 8 on Daybreak to discuss how nutritional deficiencies can be identified and dealt with.

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The local nonprofit Faith, Hope and Love recently announced a significant addition to its curriculum aimed at enhancing community health. FHL President Merlin Gonzales stopped by to chat with News 8’s Jeremy Jenkins about the nonprofit’s new initiative. The program emphasizes the crucial role of nutrition in promoting overall health and expediting recovery from illness. Notably, FHL aims to broaden its food inventory to accommodate specific dietary needs such as renal issues and gluten-free diets.

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