CORE X CROWN and the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana are partnering to fight food insecurity in the Region.

New Jersey-based CORE X Partners is a national cold storage and logistics company. CORE X CROWN is its facility under development in Crown Point.

Through the partnership, CORE X CROWN will provide temperature-controlled storage and access to additional food donations. The collaboration will expand the food bank’s capacity to serve those in the community experiencing food insecurity.

“This is a landmark partnership for us at the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana and a monumental stride towards elevating our mission to fight food insecurity in our region,” said Amy Briseño, food bank VP of development and communications, in a press release.

One in six people in Northwest Indiana—nearly 100,000 people—are food insecure. They don’t have sufficient access to nutritious food for themselves and their families. The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana distributes food for about 6 million meals yearly to kids, adults and seniors across Lake and Porter counties.

CORE X CROWN is slated to open later this year.

“The greatest hurdle we've observed for local food banks lies in their limited capacity to store perishable donations, often leading to the heart-wrenching decision to turn away much-needed food for the community,” Thom Smith, president and regional partner for the CORE X’s Midwest locations, said. “We're not just building facilities; we're fostering a lifeline that will weave through our communities to bring sustenance to every table.”

CORE X CROWN will provide cold storage for the food bank year-round. The overflow storage will enable the food bank and its network of over 110 food pantries and soup kitchens to deliver up to 750,000 more meals each year. CORE X CROWN will also facilitate additional donations of excess food from its customers.

By arranging the donation and transportation of excess food from warehouses to partner food banks nationwide, CORE X Partners aims to provide over 1 million meals annually to those who need them.

“This new facility is not just an expansion of our physical footprint but a significant step towards our commitment to addressing the pressing issues of food waste and insecurity,” Ken Whah, CORE X Partners president, said.