Food Banks: More than Food Distribution Centers

Madelyn Martinec is a 2016 graduate of Holy Cross College in Notre Dame, IN where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with honors distinction and minored in Theology, Marketing and Spanish. She interned for four summers at the Food Bank of Northern Indiana in South Bend, IN where she primarily focused program development and strategic planning during each summer. With great joy, Madelyn continues volunteering at the Food Bank during special events and fundraisers.

Food banks are often thought of as a warehouse full of food and hunger is a topic that not many people enjoy discussing. However, the reality is that millions of people may not know when they will eat their next healthy and nutritious meal despite the fact that there is enough food to feed everyone. Despite this reality, food banks offer support to those who may have to decide between paying for their medicine or paying for healthy food or those who have to think about how they will afford both their electric bills for the month and providing food for their families. Food banks are more than warehouses full of food. They are essential organizations within communities that provide support, hope, and are continuously researching how they can assist those who may not know where their next meal is coming from. I had the pleasure of interning for four summers at one of the 200 food banks within Feeding America’s network – Food Bank of Northern Indiana in South Bend, IN. Interning at the Food Bank wasn’t an internship where I sat around shredding papers or went out to buy coffee (although coffee runs were sometimes necessary). Instead, the staff at Food Bank of Northern Indiana allowed me to develop skills that I used throughout college and in my professional career.

I began developing a passion for nonprofit marketing, events, fundraising, and program development when I interned at the Food Bank. Although I developed countless skills over the four summers I interned, one specific program sticks out to me – The Healthy Choices Market.

In the summer of 2013, I worked with a contractor and the Food Bank’s CEO to design a physical space for the Healthy Choices Market.Once the walls were put up and the tiles were placed on the floor, we needed an effective and sustainable program. In the summer of 2014, we developed a program that would allow low-income clients understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle. The CEO, a fellow intern, and I decided on the name, “The Healthy Choices Market” where people could learn, choose, and live. Low-income and diabetic clients learned how to cook a nutritious meal by a professional chef while being educated about the importance of healthy living. After the class, clients are able to choose food to take home to recreate the recipes from the cooking class. Now that they have the proper tools, they are able to go forth living healthier lives that will impact them and their families.

From the outside, planning this program appears simple. However, we partnered with professional chefs, healthcare providers, community health educators, food distribution companies, and the media to spread the word all while creating a well-rounded and sustainable program. This was not your average “go file papers” internship. This was an internship that encouraged me to think more boldly, take risks, and reach out to others in order to make a dream a reality.

I strongly encourage those with a passion to transform others lives to consider interning at the Food Bank. Here, I developed communication, development, and strategic thinking skills – which are necessary skills in the workplace. The four summers I spent at the Food Bank of Northern Indiana inspired me to become a strong advocate to alleviate food insecurity and I always strive to continue educating others about hunger and health. Walking into the Food Bank every day was more than just an internship. It was a key part of my professional and personal journey. I am forever grateful for the skills I developed at the Food Bank because it prepared me for what some might refer to as the “real world.” Interning at the Food Bank gave me those “real world” skills and I was more than prepared once I entered the workforce after college. It’s more than “a building full of food.” It’s a building full of hope and innovation that educates our community about hunger, health, and cultivating stronger communities together.

The Food Bank of Northern Indiana gave me four of the greatest and most impactful summers of my life and helped me shed light on hunger in my community. Now, it’s your turn. If you are interested in interning at the Food Bank of Northern Indiana in South Bend, IN, please visit feedindiana.org or call 574.232.9986 ext. 124 for more information. Together, we can solve hunger.™