Food Is Medicine: Turning Community Impact Into Action

Haley McElyea
May 11
5 min read

Access to nutritious food is increasingly recognized as one of the most important drivers of overall health and well-being. Across healthcare, public health, and community-based organizations, the phrase “Food is Medicine” reflects a growing understanding that access to healthy food is a fundamental component of health. Yet for many families, access to healthy food is not guaranteed.

According to Feeding America, millions of Americans experience food insecurity each year, including many individuals and families across Indiana. Food insecurity, the lack of consistent access to enough nutritious food for an active and healthy life, is closely tied to social determinants of health and can lead to worsened health outcomes and increased healthcare utilization. Because of this, addressing food insecurity has become an important part of improving community health and long-term outcomes.

Feeding America estimates that more than one million Hoosiers experience food insecurity, or approximately one in seven people in the state. Many individuals facing food insecurity are working families who may not qualify for assistance programs but still struggle to consistently access nutritious food.

Research continues to show a strong connection between food insecurity and health outcomes. Food insecurity has been linked to higher rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and mental health challenges. As food insecurity increases, so does the likelihood of chronic disease and healthcare utilization, reinforcing the idea that access to nutritious food is a critical component of overall health.

Addressing food insecurity requires more than healthcare services alone. It requires strong community partnerships, innovative thinking, and individuals and organizations willing to take action.

Summit’s Impact

At Summit Managed Solutions, this idea connects closely with one of our core company values: Impact. While much of our work focuses on supporting partners as they navigate complex systems and develop solutions that improve outcomes for the populations they serve, we also believe impact extends beyond the workplace and into the communities where we live.

One of the ways we bring this value to life is through community engagement and volunteer opportunities for our Summit team. Volunteering together not only supports important organizations doing meaningful work, but it also strengthens our team culture and reminds us that the work we do ultimately connects back to people and communities.

Summit team members have had the opportunity to volunteer with Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, assisting with food sorting and preparation that would ultimately be distributed to families throughout Central Indiana. The experience was both humbling and inspiring. It highlighted the scale of food insecurity in our communities, but also the incredible impact organizations like Gleaners have in addressing these challenges every day.

Volunteering also reinforced something we strongly believe at Summit: when organizations invest in their communities, it strengthens not only the community, but the organization itself. Shared volunteer experiences build teamwork, reinforce company values, and create a sense of purpose that extends beyond day-to-day work responsibilities.

Organizations like Gleaners make it possible for individuals and organizations to directly contribute to improving food access and community health. To better understand the impact of their work and the role volunteers play in their mission, we invited the Gleaners team to share more about their organization and the communities they serve.

Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana

Gleaners was founded in 1980 in a 3-car garage by a small group of citizens committed to the belief that no one should go hungry. Since that time, we have grown to be the largest hunger relief organization in Indiana. As one of 200 member food banks in the Feeding America Network, Gleaners provides nutritious food to roughly one-third of the food insecure population in Indiana. We achieve this through initiatives like our on-site food pantry, mobile pantries, Gleaners 2 Go, and outreach through our Resource Center that helps provide direct assistance and wraparound services to our neighbors in need. Gleaners also serves a wholesale distributor of nutritious food items through our network of more than 300 network partners across our 21-county service area. We even created our own software, Groceries 2 Go, an online ordering and inventory platform that allows our neighbors the dignity of choosing the nutritious foods that work best for them and their families through our services.

Last year alone, Gleaners provided more than 102 million meals. Of the food distributed, 69% was ranked as nutritious based on HER (Healthy Eating Research) Nutrition Guidelines, including fresh produce, meat, and dairy products.

Gleaners considers volunteers the heart and soul of our mission. We could not do what we do without volunteers. Each year, we work with thousands of volunteers who make our mission their own.

In 2025, Gleaners had more than 20,000 volunteer visits and 63,000 service hours. We rely on volunteers from many different backgrounds – retirees, students, community groups, and corporate groups, like Summit Managed Solutions, to complete nearly 40% of our overall operations. Fun fact: our volunteers even visited from 27 different states and 25 different countries last year.

Creating Impact Together

Impact is created when organizations align their work, their values, and their actions to support the communities they serve. Summit’s partnership with Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana is one example of how collaboration between organizations can contribute to stronger, healthier communities across Indiana.

Food insecurity is a complex challenge, but through partnerships, volunteerism, and continued community engagement, we can all play a role in ensuring more individuals and families have access to the food they need to thrive.

When it comes to health, community, and opportunity, food truly is medicine.

How to Get Involved

Whether you are an individual looking to give back or an organization looking for ways to engage your team, there are many ways to support hunger relief efforts in your community:

Individuals can:

Volunteer at local food banks or mobile pantry distributions - visit https://www.gleaners.org/volunteer/ to learn more about volunteering at Gleaners
Donate food or financial contributions
Advocate for programs that support food access and nutrition

Organizations can:

Organize corporate volunteer days
Partner with local food banks and community organizations
Support initiatives focused on social determinants of health
Encourage employee volunteerism as part of company culture

Even small actions can make a meaningful difference when communities work together.

Resources:

Feeding America. Map the Meal Gap Report.
USDA Economic Research Service. Food Insecurity and Chronic Disease Research.
IU Health. Food Insecurity in Indiana: 1 in 7 Hoosiers Struggling to Access Daily Necessities.
Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana. Annual Impact Report.
Healthy Eating Research - https://healthyeatingresearch.org/

Christina Basey, CVA joined Gleaners in August 2013 and loves engaging with our community to fight hunger and to find a love for volunteering while doing so. She also strives to further the field of volunteer management, earning her Certificate in Volunteer Administration in 2020 and by actively participating in volunteer associations like the Central Indiana Association for Volunteer Administration. In her free time, Christina loves trying new local restaurants, traveling, and watching the Food Network while ordering takeout.

Haley McElyea is an Engagement Manager at Summit Managed Solutions, where she supports strategic sourcing, contract management, and partner operations across healthcare programs. She also plays an active role in recruiting, team culture, and community engagement initiatives, emphasizing a strong, values-driven team and organizing volunteer opportunities throughout the year. A born and raised Hoosier and former collegiate swimmer, Haley developed a deep appreciation for teamwork, partnership, and working toward a common goal, which is something she carries into her work and leadership style today. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling, and picking up new hobbies whenever she can.

Summit Managed Solutions is a management consulting and professional services firm that partners with healthcare organizations across the private, public, and social sectors to create value. By providing comprehensive solution management and inclusive business operation services, Summit helps deliver specific, transformative outcomes. With consulting and managed service offerings, Summit helps partners overcome the critical challenges associated with people, process, and technology, while providing partners with flexibility, reliability, and innovation that will propel growth.