Food service donates food to not-for-profits
Volunteer members of Manna Ministries pass out food, clothing and other supplies at their weekly event. Photo contributed by Manna Ministries
Just the swipe of a meal card allows University of Indianapolis students to enter The Market Place and help themselves to all they can eat.
However, a lot goes on behind the scenes, behind the baked potato bar, the made-to-order stir fry and the soft serve ice cream. Polk Food Service Inc. Director Ted Polk does what he can to try to make sure edible food does not go to waste.
“We try not to throw away any more than we have to, because there are so many people needing stuff. We’re so lucky here,” Polk said. “People need it and we don’t want to waste it. It’s good for the environment; it’s good for everyone.”
Each Monday, Manna Ministries of Indy, Inc., a not-for-profit ministry, picks up a donation of leftover food from PFS.
“Ted and the school do a wonderful job on helping us out with food, and they play a main part of our ministry,” said president of Manna Ministries Dennis Glazebrook.
Manna Ministries’ mission, according to its website mannaministriesofindy.org, is “to minister to the spiritual and temporal needs of people throughout our community. To feed the hungry, to cloth the naked and to shelter the homeless.”
Each Thursday, the all-volunteer staff of Manna Ministries sets up a food line for an average of 30 people in need. Volunteers then give the homeless a “bus ticket” to take turns getting on the their bus. The Manna bus is full of donated items, such as non-perishable food items, clothing, over-the-counter medicines, tents and more.
“Anything you need, if you’re out on the streets, we have it on that bus,” Glazebrook said.
After everyone is done on the bus, the group prays for a while and then everyone goes on his or her own way until the following Thursday evening. Manna Ministries has done this each week for nine consecutive years.
In addition to Manna Ministries, Polk also has donated to Gleaners Food Bank, Wheeler Mission Ministries and a women’s shelter in Indianapolis. He tries to donate to places near campus, because there is no truck for deliveries, but has gone as far as Johnson County with donations. According to Polk, he donates all that he can.
UIndy went trayless a few years ago, and according to Polk, that move cut back on the amount of food waste in the dining hall.
The amount of waste in the dining room dish room at each meal is about 100 to 130 pounds. Polk is trying to start donating to an organic garden on Southport Road, which was the reason trash was weighed.
Glazebrook said that anyone wanting to get involved with Manna Ministries can call him personally at 317-637-1415. He said volunteers do not need to be with a religious organization, but what they do is “a God thing.”
Polk said he strongly believes in helping others, which is what prompts him to donate leftover food from PFS.
“I worked at a couple universities before I was here, and the students here are a lot more interested in service and things like that,” Polk said. “You can tell the difference. Our motto here is ‘Education for Service,’ and I see that. I love the students here. It makes you feel good.”
