Legacy Foundation and the City of Gary recently announced awarding a combined $85,000 to the Gary Food Collective Co-op, a community-driven initiative led by Family Life Community Center designed to address food insecurity, foster economic growth, and empower Gary residents. Funding will be used to expand its food Co-op program across the City of Gary by equipping individuals with the skills needed to successfully launch and sustain their own food co-ops, while providing residents with access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food.
Support for this project is provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Fund at Legacy Foundation and the City of Gary American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant.
"Access to healthy, affordable food for our residents is a fundamental quality of life issue,“ said Mayor Eddie Melton. “I’m proud to support the Gary Food Collective Co-op initiative. This program shows we can collaboratively address food insecurity while also providing education and entrepreneurship opportunities that benefit our community.”
Research shows that food co-ops not only provide access to healthy foods but create local jobs and foster economic resilience. The Food Collective Co-op program will continue addressing the critical issue of food insecurity across the City of Gary while promoting economic development and community empowerment by training individuals to own their own co-ops.
“We are honored to partner with Family Life Community Center to address food insecurity across the City of Gary while empowering residents through economic development,” said Legacy Foundation President and CEO, Kelly Anoe. “I am excited to see the growth of the Gary Food Collective Co-op and the positive impact it will continue having on the city!”
In the last three months, Family Life Community Center has helped feed nearly 8,000 people. The Co-op is primarily sourced by the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, but through a new partnership, the Co-op now receives items from local Meijer and Target locations.
“Receiving these grants is a monumental step forward for the Gary Food Collective, explained LaJuan Clemons, founder of the Family Life Community Center. “This funding allows us to expand our co-op program, making fresh, nutritious food more accessible while fostering workforce development and community empowerment. Inspired by the legacy of Gary native Jacob Reddix and the Consumer Cooperative Trading Company, we aim to create a modern network of co-ops that reflects the same spirit of resilience and innovation. This is about more than just food; it’s about building a sustainable, self-reliant community that thrives together.”
To learn more about the Gary Food Collective Co-op program and Family Life Community Center contact Lajuan Clemons at 219-240-6557 or laJuan@garyfoodcollective.net.
About Legacy Foundation
Legacy Foundation is the community foundation for Lake County, Indiana. Our mission is to transform Lake County by providing strategic leadership and impactful philanthropic support to ensure equitable opportunity for all communities that we serve. Through the generosity of a wide base of donors, Legacy Foundation has awarded over $50 million in grants and scholarships to nonprofit organizations and individuals since its founding in 1992. The foundation manages $100 million in assets and is governed by a volunteer board of directors representing a diverse spectrum of business, education, and the nonprofit and public sectors. Learn more at www.legacyfdn.org.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
We are social investors who support democracy by funding free expression and journalism, arts and culture in community, research in areas of media and democracy, and in the success of American cities and towns where the Knight brothers once had newspapers. Learn more at kf.org and follow @knightfdn on social media.
About the City of Gary, Indiana
The City of Gary, Indiana, steeped in a rich legacy of industry and musical culture, is dedicated to improving the quality of life for every citizen through transparent, efficient, and fiscally responsible leadership. Guided by our mission to thoughtfully grow as a safe community, we continuously strive to improve the services we provide to our citizens and businesses. Our vision is to create a vibrant, sustainable urban environment that honors and respects our past while paving the way for a prosperous future. We are committed to meeting the diverse needs of our growing community with integrity, service, excellence, responsiveness, vision, and empathy.