One of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the U.S., is hosting a food drive at all four of its Fort Wayne locations in partnership with http://www.communityharvest.org/ Food Bank. The food drive will run for the entire month of April and all food will be distributed through multiple hunger relief programs benefiting children, seniors, veterans, and families in northeast Indiana.
According to Community Harvest, one in seven area individuals struggle to put food on the table. With a shortage of fresh produce, boxed meals, and canned meat and proteins to distribute to those in need, Community Harvest recently put out a call to action for help from the community.
“When we saw Community Harvest was experiencing shortages and seeking donations, we immediately wanted to help,” said Adam Willaeys, CEO of Impact Fitness. “With our locations spread throughout Fort Wayne, we saw an opportunity for our community to come together and assist with the local hunger relief effort.”
Community Harvest noted that items most needed are peanut butter, canned protein, canned fruits, canned vegetables, canned beans, canned soups, dry goods (beans, rice, pasta), and boxed dinners. Opened containers, expired products, homemade foods, or items in glass containers will not be accepted.
Planet Fitness locations in Fort Wayne are listed below. Donations are accepted 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
. 7528 S. Anthony Blvd., 46816
. 6360 W. Jefferson Blvd., 46804
. 4350 Maplecrest Rd., 46835
. 1916 W. Dupont Rd., 46818
All food collected during the drive will be distributed through Community Harvest’s in-house programs such as Community Cupboard and Crisis Assistance, or through member agencies located throughout the nine counties it serves.
“In Allen County, 14% of the population, or 51,300 people, identify as food insecure, meaning they don’t always know where their next meal is coming from. While many think that people who visit the food bank receive SNAP benefits, the truth is that many of our clients are working families, disabled individuals, and senior citizens who are having a hard time making ends meet on limited incomes,” said Maia Pfeffer of Community Harvest. “Some families can be one flat tire away from an empty dinner table, and Community Harvest is available as a resource for families to get through tough times.”
Community Harvest assists nearly 85,000 unique individuals every year through more than 10 hunger relief programs and partnerships with nearly 400 nonprofit member agencies throughout northeast Indiana.
Impact Fitness, which owns and operates the Fort Wayne Planet Fitness clubs, engages in the communities it serves in meaningful ways to positively impact lives.
For more information or to join online, please visit http://www.PlanetFitness.com or follow on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/PlanetFitness) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/PlanetFitness). *PF Black Card® amenities may vary by location .
