Lilly marks 150th anniversary with nationwide food access initiative

INDIANAPOLIS — Eli Lilly and Company is marking its 150th anniversary with a nationwide initiative to expand access to nutritious food, including support for distributing approximately 500,000 meals and installing cold storage infrastructure at 150 food pantries across the United States.

Through charitable support from HATCH, United Way Worldwide, United Way of Central Indiana, and the Pacers Foundation, Lilly said the effort aims to strengthen both immediate food distribution and long-term access to protein-rich meals in underserved communities.

The company said the initiative will support charitable food distribution efforts across 15 communities, including Indianapolis, Houston, Huntsville, Lehigh Valley, Richmond, Concord, Research Triangle Park, Louisville, Colo., San Diego, Boston, Cambridge, Kenosha, San Francisco, New York and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“As we mark 150 years, we’re focused on what comes next — not just in medicine, but in how we advance health. Access to nutritious food is foundational. We're proud to support the organizations doing this work — including their efforts to build infrastructure that feeds families long after this anniversary year,” said Melissa Coe, associate vice president for social impact and community engagement at Lilly.

A key component of the initiative is support for HATCH, which will acquire and donate commercial-grade refrigeration systems to 150 food pantries nationwide. Lilly said the infrastructure investment is expected to help food pantries collectively provide an estimated five million protein-rich meals annually for years to come.

“Without the right infrastructure, it’s hard to get nutritious food to families in need consistently. One of the biggest challenges food pantries face is having the systems in place to properly store and distribute nutrient-dense food. We’re grateful to Lilly for their willingness to support HATCH and its charitable efforts related to a long-term solution that will continue serving families long after this initiative ends,” said Daniel Leckie, CEO of HATCH.

In Central Indiana and Boone County, the initiative will support United Way of Central Indiana and its charitable food distribution efforts at Gleaners and Second Helpings. Across 14 additional communities, United Way Worldwide will coordinate food distribution activities and volunteer opportunities for Lilly employees.

“In Central Indiana, we see every day how access to nutritious food shapes health, stability and opportunity. We’re grateful for Lilly’s leadership supporting organizations involved in charitable food distribution efforts and proud to work alongside other community members to meet immediate food needs while strengthening the infrastructure that will support our neighbors in need for years to come,” said Fred Payne, president and CEO of United Way of Central Indiana.

Lilly is also supporting the Pacers Foundation and the expansion of its Drive & Dish program to three new sites in Marion and Boone Counties over the next five years. Developed in partnership with Gleaners Food Bank, the program focuses on improving access to healthy food and emphasizing dignity and choice for families in need.

The initiative launches this month and will run throughout 2026, culminating in Lilly’s annual Global Day of Service in September.