WESTFIELD, Ind. – As the city of Westfield continues to expand at a breakneck pace, Meijer Simply Give is playing a vital role in meeting the rising needs of the community. With population growth multiplying 17 times over the past 35 years, and Westfield now ranking as the sixth-fastest growing city in the U.S., demand for food assistance has followed suit, and Meijer’s community partnerships are stepping in to help fill the gap.
One of those partnerships is with Open Doors of Washington Township, a volunteer-run nonprofit serving Westfield families with food, clothing, and access to essential services. Founded in 1990, the organization has grown alongside the city, recently expanding its newest facility just three years after opening.
“We added on to our newest location within the first three years of opening, and we haven’t slowed down since,” said Carrie Larrison, Vice President of Special Projects at Open Doors. “We are an all-volunteer-run organization, and we serve anyone who lives in Washington Township or who is referred to us by one of our member churches.”
Meijer’s presence in Westfield has proven to be a game-changer. The Meijer store that opened in 2021, just 10 minutes from Open Doors, now serves as a crucial supply hub for food assistance programs, particularly through Meijer’s Simply Give campaign. The impact is perhaps most visible in Open Doors’ Weekend Food Bag project, launched in collaboration with local schools to provide food for children on free or reduced lunch programs.
“The Meijer here in town opened right around when we started a Weekend Food Bag project with our local schools,” Larrison said. “This program provides food for the weekend to middle and elementary school students who normally eat free or reduced-cost breakfasts and lunches at school during the week. We use a large amount of Meijer Simply Give gift cards to buy kid-friendly foods for the program.”
“Westfield has a great school system, so the population growth of families is no surprise,” said Larrison. “This also means we have more families with children and multigenerational households coming to Open Doors for assistance.”
As more families with children and multigenerational households seek support, Open Doors depends on Simply Give’s flexibility. While community food drives remain strong, they often result in limited variety. The gift cards allow volunteers to stock more fresh fruits, vegetables, and culturally diverse staples, helping families prepare meals that reflect their traditions.
“We’re so blessed to have a very caring community that donates a lot of food and hosts food drives, but we tend to get a lot of the same things. That’s where we most utilize Meijer Simply Give,” Larrison said. “We want to offer more than just canned green beans or corn as an option. We want visitors to be able to choose from different veggies and fruits.”
This focus on choice and inclusivity led to a shift in how Open Doors approaches the holiday season. The organization previously ordered bulk perishables for its holiday food programs. Today, it distributes Meijer-only gift Cards, empowering families to purchase what they need to celebrate in a culturally meaningful way.
“That is a big impact on the families and their dignity,” said Larrison.
“We used to order bulk perishable goods for our holiday programs, but we’ve learned families celebrate holidays differently. Instead of providing everyone with the same perishable food, we started giving Food-Only Gift Cards from Meijer Simply Give instead,” Larrion explained. “This gives families more flexibility to serve a meal that reflects the winter holiday they celebrate culturally.”
