Navient Foundation contributes $12,500 to Second Helpings to provide food for those in need

FISHERS, Ind., March 18, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Not all superheroes wear spandex. At Second Helpings, a local community kitchen located in Indianapolis, the uniforms of choice are caps and aprons. The staff and volunteers save overstocked and perishable food from the food service industry that would otherwise end up as waste. They create more than 4,000 hot and nutritious meals each day that are distributed to 80 local social service agencies to feed people in need.

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Navient Foundation, the company-sponsored philanthropic fund, contributed $12,500 to Second Helpings to support its mission of "transforming lives through the power of food."

"This contribution to Second Helpings proves Navient Foundation is committed to our community and our work to alleviate hunger and poverty," said Jennifer Vigran, CEO, Second Helpings. "Gifts like this one help keep our kitchens humming and our vehicles running."

Known as "food rescue," Second Helpings sends out refrigerated trucks and vans six days a week to save bread, fresh produce, meat and much more from local donors. All of the drivers have undergone extensive training in food safety and sanitation guidelines.

Each year, Second Helpings rescues more than 2 million pounds of safe, edible food from distributors, caterers, restaurants, grocers and others. In addition, the local kitchen also provides culinary job training, helping to teach disadvantaged adults the skills they need for careers in the food service industry. More than 600 adults have graduated from the program.

"We are very fortunate to have Second Helpings in our community working tirelessly to not only ensure that those in need will have a warm meal, but that very little of our food that we take for granted goes to waste," said Jon Kroehler, senior vice president, Navient. "We are proud to stand behind Second Helpings and their efforts to provide food and opportunities for those in need."

In America, an average of one pound of food per day is wasted for every man, woman and child — 27 percent of our available food supply, according to Second Helpings.

Learn more about Second Helpings and how you can donate.

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About Navient

As the nation's leading loan management, servicing and asset recovery company, Navient (Nasdaq:NAVI) helps customers navigate the path to financial success. Servicing more than $300 billion in student loans, the company supports the educational and economic achievements of more than 12 million Americans. A growing number of public and private sector clients rely on Navient for proven solutions to meet their financial goals. Learn more at navient.com. 

Contact:

Nick LaMastra, 302-283-2964, nicholas.lamastra@navient.com