Indiana State University Newsroom

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - For the third year in a row, a grant received by Sodexo at Indiana State University Dining Services from the Sodexo Foundation is helping feed the hungry in the Wabash Valley.

The $20,000 grant, together with goods provided by vendor partners such as Dole, Kelloggs, General Mills, Dannon and Smuckers, is providing food to Terre Haute's Feeding America affiliate, Catholic Charities, which is dispersing it to its 15 local feeding centers.

Terre Haute is one of 18 cities participating in the Feeding Our Future program, run by the Sodexo Foundation.

"I am delighted that through the generosity of Sodexo and Indiana State that we're helping fight hunger in the Wabash Valley," said Ray Veit, director of Dining Halls for Sodexo at Indiana State.

As part of Feeding Our Future, more than 20,000 pounds of non-perishable products were delivered to Indiana State in four deliveries. Catholic Charities picked up the donations and distributed them to its centers, located in three counties.

"The amount of food picked up by Catholic Charities at each drop is impressive," Veit said. "This is wholesale, not retail value, so the grant buys even more."

For John Etling, agency director for Catholic Charities, the influx of two tons of food donations has been welcome. The organization has seen an increased demand for service due to last year's flooding and subsequent economic downturn.

"We truly appreciate the generosity of Sodexo during these tough economic times," Etling said.

Sue Sluyter, Dining Services general manager for Sodexo, said the grant is just one way employees and ISU students fight hunger in the community. A large majority of the company's 200 local employees donate to the foundation through payroll deduction and Indiana State students contributed more than $1,800 to the foundation through specially-marked goodies sold in the Lincoln Quad and Sycamore Dining carryouts throughout the school year.

"Our employees are very excited to be a part of this. They contribute to this cause and enjoy seeing their efforts helping others locally," Veit added.

In addition to the food stuffs received through the grant, Catholic Charities receives surplus food items on a daily basis from Indiana State's dining facilities. Those donations added up to more than 23,000 pounds in 2008, according to Veit.

"We are grateful that we've been able to team up with the Sodexo Foundation for the past three years to bring something that benefits the community," Sluyter added.

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Contact: Sue Sluyter, ISU Dining Services General Manager, (812)237-4138

Writer: Paula Meyer, ISU Communications & Marketing, (812) 237-3783 or pmeyer4@isugw.indstate.edu