SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) – In a world where so much food gets wasted, Cultivate Food Rescue is working to redirect food from the trash to Michiana families in need.
The man steering that mission is executive director Jim Conklin — a servant leader who learned the value of time and purpose the hard way, which allowed him to make Cultivate what it is today.
Mission born from personal experience
Conklin’s path to Cultivate Food Rescue began more than 15 years ago when his health changed unexpectedly.
“I was working at a CPA firm here in town, and I started dragging my left foot, didn’t know why or what that was. Then I started having weakness in my left arm and quickly two weeks later, I was having brain surgery,” Conklin said.
The brain tumor diagnosis gave him a new perspective on life and career.
“You kinda rethink what you are doing,” he said.
He left his accounting career, a decision he credits to his wife.
“She said you know you are only going to get one chance to do this. You can always go back to the accounting world. So, it was at this point where you go there’s lot of opportunities here,” Conklin said.
Turning challenge into purpose
Conklin has had more than five brain surgeries. He views the experience as a positive force in his life.
“It has changed me enough personally, that I wouldn’t ask for it to go away,” he said. “It changes your focus like how can you make a difference? For me, how can I live out my faith and take those steps that we are called to take out.”
The surgeries led him to Cultivate Food Rescue, where thousands of volunteers pack millions of meals each year.
“Can you imagine not being able to feed your kids on a daily basis? It’s not only physically a challenge, but mentally it’s a huge challenge,” Conklin said.
He said the solution to hunger is about logistics, not scarcity.
“With issues like hunger, you kind of go in defeated. You really can’t solve this issue and I’m like no, we have more than enough food to feed everybody. You just have to solve the logistics issue,” Conklin said.
He said the work provides daily motivation.
“No matter how long my day is or what frustrations came, I get to walk out to a parking lot full of cars of people who work all day long so you get that daily affirmation that hey whatever this is, and it’s locally focused for our kids struggling. There’s a lot of good and impact being done and that’s motivating,” Conklin said.
How to help
WNDU and Cultivate Food Rescue are teaming up through “Donate to Cultivate” — a community initiative to provide children facing food insecurity with nutritious, reliable meals.
Donations are being collected throughout June. $20 feeds a child for the weekend. $200 feeds a child for 10 weeks.
Donors who contribute will have their names shown on the news on June 26.
Click here to donate
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