Community Foundation Awards $120,000 Grant to Gymtown Food Bank

February 3, 2026

ELKHART, Ind. — The Community Foundation of Elkhart County has awarded a $120,000 capital campaign grant to Gymtown Food Bank to support the addition of expanded cold storage, strengthening the organization’s ability to meet rising food needs across Elkhart County.

The one-year grant will help fund additional refrigeration and freezer capacity as Gymtown continues its growth from a single food pantry into a food bank that supplies food to other pantries throughout the county. The Community Foundation’s Kids and Families Committee recommended the grant, recognizing Gymtown’s expanding role in addressing food insecurity and supporting families who need reliable access to nutritious food.

“Gymtown Food Bank has grown in response to real needs we’re seeing across Elkhart County,” said Scott Griffey, founder of Gymtown Food Bank. “We couldn’t have done this without the Community Foundation. Their support has just been incredible.”

The food bank opened in late 2025. Griffey and his family started giving food to others in 2017, and the effort grew into the food bank. Griffey said the organization’s mission is rooted in both compassion and practicality. “We’ve always had a passion for helping people with food,” he said. “Not all the families we serve are completely destitute. They just need a boost every now and then. But we also have levels of the working poor that are skyrocketing. I’m also shocked to see the number of working homeless people growing rapidly.”

The expanded cold storage will allow Gymtown to safely store and distribute more fresh and frozen foods, increasing capacity not only for its own pantry but also for partner pantries across the county. The food bank is serving 48 other pantries, schools, and organizations, helping people in Elkhart County.

Gymtown Food Bank is an active partner in Hunger Ends Here, a countywide effort coordinating food access among local pantries and meal programs. The Community Foundation continues to support Hunger Ends Here through grantmaking, collaboration, and community partnerships to ensure no one in Elkhart County goes hungry.

“This grant reflects the committee’s appreciation for Gymtown’s leadership and its commitment to serving both families and partner pantries,” said Vonnie Trumble, program officer for kids and families at the Community Foundation. “As food insecurity continues to affect working families in new ways, investments like this help strengthen the entire network.”