Indianapolis Nonprofit Celebrates 10 Years of Providing Free Food Access

The Community Food Box Project marks a decade of empowering the community through food advocacy, education, and grassroots distribution.

Published on Mar. 3, 2026

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The Community Food Box Project, a local Indianapolis nonprofit, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The organization started as a direct mutual aid effort to get food to people in need, and has since grown to include food advocacy, policy education, and community gardening initiatives. The nonprofit operates 86 brightly painted food boxes around the city to provide free and easy access to food, and is now looking to expand its programming with community dinners, cooking classes, and an interactive map of food box locations.

Why it matters

The Community Food Box Project's work is crucial in a city where food insecurity remains a significant issue, with a 2025 survey finding that 53% of Marion County residents experienced food insecurity. The nonprofit's grassroots approach to food distribution and its focus on local partnerships and community empowerment set it apart from traditional food bank models.

The details

The Community Food Box Project was founded by Sierra Nuckols 10 years ago as a direct mutual aid effort to get food to people in need immediately. Over the past decade, the organization has grown to include food advocacy, policy education, and community gardening initiatives. The nonprofit currently operates 86 brightly painted food boxes around Indianapolis, which are stocked through sponsorships and partnerships with local businesses and organizations. Looking ahead, the group plans to host community dinners, expand its community garden in Haughville, and launch cooking classes, in addition to rebuilding its website to include an interactive map of food box locations.

  • The Community Food Box Project was founded in 2016.
  • The organization is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2026.
  • A fundraiser event is scheduled for March 7, 2026 from 6-9 PM.

The players

Sierra Nuckols

The founder of the Community Food Box Project, which she started 10 years ago as a direct mutual aid effort to get food to people in need immediately.

Community Food Box Project

A local Indianapolis nonprofit that operates 86 brightly painted food boxes around the city to provide free and easy access to food, in addition to running food advocacy, policy education, and community gardening initiatives.

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What they’re saying

“It was all about just getting food to people immediately when they needed it.”

— Sierra Nuckols, Founder (Mirror Indy)

What’s next

The Community Food Box Project is hosting a fundraiser event on March 7, 2026 from 6-9 PM to help the nonprofit continue its work and offer more programming for the community, including cooking classes and food policy education.

The takeaway

The Community Food Box Project's grassroots approach to addressing food insecurity in Indianapolis, through free food distribution, community empowerment, and advocacy, serves as a model for how local nonprofits can make a meaningful impact in their communities.