Community Harvest Food Bank received a substantial donation of $10,000 in emergency funds from the American Electric Power (AEP) Foundation, on behalf of Indiana Michigan Power, to help the local community amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“We are grateful to the AEP Foundation and I&M for this donation and for all of their support during this challenging time,” said Carmen Cumberland, Community Harvest Executive President. “Ending hunger is especially important during this time of crisis and we are humbled by the response from our communities working together and for each other.”

“This $10,000 gift will be used to purchase much needed food for families across the region,” said John Wolf, Community Harvest Chief Executive Officer. “Program demand has increased substantially as more and more people are in need of crisis assistance. It is thanks to generous partners like the AEP Foundation and I&M that we’re able to fulfill our mission to alleviate hunger.”

In total, the AEP Foundation is donating $240,000 to support basic human needs like food, shelter, and housing assistance across I&M’s service territory. Overall, the AEP Foundation will donate $1.5 million to communities served by AEP in eleven states.

“During this pandemic, we are also seeing what makes us all proud of our Nation, our State and of our local communities – coming together and helping our neighbors,” said Toby Thomas, I&M President and COO. “With the AEP Foundation grant I&M is able to help provide for the communities we serve, live and work in by ensuring basic needs are met so we can focus on what’s important during this challenging time – staying safe and healthy.”