In mid-October, the Gene B. Glick Company’s corporate volunteer program, Glick Cares, met at Flanner House on Indianapolis’ northwest side to lend a helping hand. One of Glick’s corporate social responsibility focus areas is addressing food insecurity in communities where Glick properties are located. The northwest side of Indianapolis is one of the city’s largest food deserts.

Flanner House is doing some incredible work to provide equitable food access to its neighbors. Glick and Flanner House both believe that everyone, regardless of one’s zip code or socioeconomic status, should have access to healthy, affordable food. Flanner House is leading the way to provide this neighborhood with healthy, nutritional food at an affordable price. The organization launched its own urban farm, Flanner Farms, on its campus. The 1.9-acre farm grows fresh produce for the Flanner House community. Some of the produce from the farm goes to Cleo’s Bodega Grocery and Café, a new space opened by Flanner House earlier this year. According to Flanner House, Cleo’s Bodega is the only place to buy fresh produce within a two-mile radius of their campus. The café within the bodega gives neighbors a place to gather, drink a cup of coffee and enjoy each other’s company.

Another spot for the community to gather together is a small pocket park located across the street from Flanner House. The Glick Cares group spent their volunteer time sprucing up this park. Work included mulching and cleaning up the beds. The park is full of raised beds for the community to garden, harvest and enjoy the produce at no charge. The park has several picnic tables and shade structures making it a peaceful place to gather with neighbors.

This is just the latest example of Glick’s work to address food insecurity. For instance, our annual food drive is underway. Glick has also teamed up with the Indianapolis Colts to tackle food insecurity.