The Salvation Army of East Chicago Receives $36,025 in Grants to Renovate Kitchen and Expand Daily Feeding Program

The Salvation Army of East Chicago is excited to announce the receipt of three community grants that will be used to support its robust daily feeding program.

After an initial $10,000 grant by United Way of Northwest Indiana to replace a stove and install a dishwasher, The Cleveland-Cliffs Foundation awarded a $15,000 grant toward the kitchen renovation and program expansion project. Another $11,025 has been awarded by NIPSCO/NiSource Charitable Foundation. 

The funds awarded will help The Salvation Army make some big improvements to its aging facility at 513 W. Chicago Avenue in East Chicago, including: 

• Replacing the industrial stove in the kitchen
• Upgrading plumbing and installing a commercial dish washer
• Replacing two AC units on the roof of the building

"We are thankful to have community support in East Chicago to better serve those in need," said Major Troy Barker, Area Commander of The Salvation Army of Northwest Indiana. "The Salvation Army has supported its community for many years, and these funds will help continue the good work The Salvation Army does."

The Salvation Army of East Chicago is Northwest Indiana's most prolific food pantry and food kitchen. It serves those in need in East Chicago, Whiting, and the Robertsdale part of Hammond. Hot meals are prepared Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., serving 80-100 individuals daily. In addition to the hot food program, the food pantry serves 25-30 households every Monday through Thursday. 

United Way Northwest Indiana partners with local nonprofits and community organizations to strengthen food security and improve outcomes for families across the Region. Investments in operational capacity—like essential kitchen infrastructure—help frontline providers meet rising needs with greater speed and stability.

“Behind every hot meal is a team working hard to serve people with dignity and consistency,” said Chris White, CEO of United Way Northwest Indiana. “This $10,000 investment is about more than appliances—it’s about increasing the efficiency and reliability of a feeding operation that supports hundreds of our neighbors every day in East Chicago. When organizations have the right tools, volunteers and staff can spend less time navigating bottlenecks and more time doing what matters: getting meals out quickly, safely, and with care.” 

Alexius Barber, the Public Affairs and Economic Development Manager with NIPSCO, said, "The NiSource Charitable Foundation is proud to continue its long-time support of the Salvation Army. Ensuring that the communities we are privileged to serve have regular access to both nutritious meals and impactful programs. This is another reason we are so excited to partner with the Salvation Army and others to provide hope for those in need!"

With the funds from the combined grants, The Salvation Army aims to prepare food more quickly and improve clean-up capabilities, a welcome change for the many volunteers and staff who work in the kitchen each day to ensure that hot food makes it out to those struggling with food insecurity. The improvements should make it possible to increase feeding capabilities, with a goal of serving 20 more people each day. This would add up to 7,300 additional hot meals served each year.

The updated HVAC system will also reduce heating and cooling costs, freeing up thousands of dollars that can be used for community outreach and youth programming. 

For more information about The Salvation Army of East Chicago visit SANorthwestIndiana.org.