Chris Sims

chris.sims@indystar.com

The hungry in Indianapolis have a new hero to thank.

Sierra Nuckols doesn't wear a cape, but she does garner a big smile that pales in comparison to her heart.

The 20-year-old junior at Hanover College has established the Community Food Box Project, posting the first of what she hopes will be several free food boxes across Indianapolis to help those stuck in the city's food deserts.

According to the project's Facebook page, the goal is to offer temporary, immediate relief "until the city and other stakeholders invest in the urgent needs of people living with food insecurity."

"The idea is to eliminate food deserts in the Indianapolis area. Hopefully as more (boxes) pop up around the city, the conversation gets larger," Nuckols said.

The path to the project had some twists and turns for Nuckols.

She was on a mission after returning from a trip to South Africa as part of the Desmond Tutu Youth Fellowship at Butler University. The empowerment program was her inspiration, as each person was encouraged to implement an alternative and sustainable food access program.

Nuckols was prepared to start an urban gardening project to provide fresh food until she came across a Huffington Post article that talked about a free pantry movement in Arkansas.

She knew exactly what she wanted to do, but how? A Facebook comment on the story provided the answer: old newspaper distribution boxes.

"When I saw it on Facebook, I just changed my direction. I knew this was a way to get more to the root of the problem," Nuckols said.

She placed a call to Nuvo and gave them a brochure of her idea. Her yield was five boxes. Groundwork Indy was her next accomplice, providing pick-up of the boxes, storage, paint and workshop space.

The result culminated in her first box installation at IPS School 56 on Wednesday. The north-side school's help doesn't stop with providing the location. School 56 is also helping to provide the food.

Two more locations are set to be installed at Rock of Faith Missionary Baptist Church, 10302 E. 38th St., and the Martin Luther King Community Center, 40 W. 40th St.

And if that wasn't enough, Nuckols has seven more in the works.

"I'm just glad some families are able to get food. That is the most important part to me," Nuckols said. "I think people will start catching on to the larger picture."

Follow IndyStar digital producer Chris Sims on Twitter: @ChrisFSims.

How to help

If you would like a Community Food Box at your organization, requests can be made via the project's Facebook page.

If you are an individual who wants to donate, donations can be made at any Community Food Box.

Donation guidelines

Items to donate:

Nonperishable food items.

Canned food.

Hygiene products.

Diapers.

Ready-to-eat food items.

Ramen noodles.

School supplies (unsharpened pencils, crayons, notebooks).

Do not donate these items: