IDES provides over 3,700 meals to school pantry

A Letter from Kristina Trusty: president of fueled for School

I wanted to take a moment this evening to express my sincere gratitude and heartfelt thanks to the IDES community.  A few weeks ago our nation was rocked with alarming news -- a viral pandemic of catastrophic proportions.  As the world shifted into emergency mode and we all learned new terms such as "social distancing" and "flattening the curve," IDES reached out to support our organization, Fueled For School.  Historically, Fueled For School has been a weekend meal program, providing meals to 250-350 food insecure youth in Noblesville.  This all changed as businesses began to close in lieu of quarantines and shelter in place recommendations.  Within the first week of the pandemic, our program nearly doubled in size serving a record number of children..580!  Honestly, the number was overwhelming and we knew that weekend meals wouldn't be enough as more and more of our neighbors continued to loose jobs. Thus, we evolved into a full-blown pantry providing daily meals and groceries for the children of our community.

Jody and Joe's timing was truly impeccable. They arrived when we needed them the most with nourishing meals for the children and a sincere desire to help and serve.  They worked long hours next to the Fueled For School team, often doing the heavy lifting.  Literally.  We are a team of women and were happy to have them move pallets and load heavy boxes as our arms and legs just couldn't keep up.  What these gentleman didn't know was that they brought some much needed laughter to some of our darkest days as an organization.  Our inboxes were full of sad stories -- of jobs lost, of hungry children, of those who needed help. We worried about funding, logistics, and longevity.  Joe and Jody knew none of this, so watching them playfully tease each other (and sometimes us) as we worked certainly lifted our spirits. Their presence changed the entire mood of the room. They reminded us to find the joy in the darkness and we are so thankful for their inspiration.  The truth is, we were sad to see them go and hope that they will return soon. They are certainly a blessing to the Fueled For School team and to the children in our community.