In 1980 Gleaners Food Bank was created in a 3 1/2 car garage by a group of people concerned about the growing problem of hunger in Indianapolis. Early in 1981, Lilly Endowment awarded the not-for-profit organization a grant which allowed it to pursue the development of food banks with a number of Indiana communities. Since its inception 27 years ago, Gleaner’s has distributed over 195 million pounds of food and critical grocery products to nearly 400 charities. It now serves 29 central Indiana counties and one-quarter million people annually, over 37% of whom are children.
Recently, Gleaners has experienced dramatic growth in both its distribution business as well as its donor base, which has put tremendous pressure on the finance department. Like many small businesses and not-for-profits, Gleaners had trouble finding a reliable, competent part-time accounting clerk. As the organization searched for solutions, Board Treasurer Mike Lee introduced Gleaners to Milestone Advisors. Gleaners’ President & CEO, Pam Altmeyer, says “Milestone came to us at a time of desperation. We were the victim of our own success.”
Milestone provides two bookkeepers who work directly with Gleaners. Pam Harris and Pam Armor are cross-trained on the various duties they perform at Gleaners each week. Altmeyer thinks it is an advantage to have a bookkeeping team. “Harris and Armor are intellectually agile and they work very well together,” says Altmeyer, “one picks up where the other leaves off. They stay fresh and that’s important because the work can be monotonous, but it is critical. I also like the flexibility that Milestone Advisors provides, whether we have long term needs or temporary projects. We love and appreciate Milestone Advisors.”
Milestone Advisors helps Gleaners stay ahead of the day to day demands in the financial department so Gleaners can focus on what they do best, feeding the hungry in central Indiana.
To learn more about Milestone Advisor’s services and ways that Milestone can help you grow your business, contact Donna Dwyer Pitz at 317-581-1820 x704.