Community Harvest "Food Bank of the Year"

In 2005 Feeding America (then known as America's Second Harvest) conducted a "compliance audit" of Community Harvest Food Bank as a requirement of the Feeding America affiliation agreement. Such audits are conducted every two years "to ensure the highest standards are being maintained in the interest of the individual food bank, Feeding America, and the Feeding America Network as a whole."

Not only did Community Harvest pass the audit with flying colors ("No items of non-compliance were found.") but the Feeding America Field Services representative who conducted the audit said, "I will undoubtedly take along some of the best practices I learned from your staff and share them with others in the network during my travels." Later in 2005, Feeding America went further in commending Community Harvest Food Bank by naming it the 2005 Food Bank of the Year.

"This award is presented to a food bank that excels in its mission of hunger relief, is financially sound and demonstrates flawless warehouse and administrative practices as certified by Feeding America during biannual inspections. Community Harvest was selected out of 214 food banks and food rescue organizations nationally that are Feeding America members," said Robert Forney, Feeding America President and CEO in the awards announcement.

"Community Harvest is not only the smallest food bank to ever receive this honor, we are the only Indiana food bank to receive this national recognition," explained Jane Avery, Community Harvest executive director. "We have an active and involved board of directors, hard-working and committed staff, and a wide network of member agencies who work tirelessly to distribute food to those who need it."

Forney continued, "Community Harvest's exemplary work has rightfully positioned them for this recognition. It is a job well done. We all hope that Community Harvest's accomplishments will prove that smaller, and in some ways poorer, communities can also do wonderful work."