Community Spotlight: The Woman Behind Indianapolis Food Recovery

INDIANAPOLIS — In a converted warehouse on the near east side of Indianapolis, just blocks from the bustling Cultural Trail, Maria Santos is orchestrating what she calls a "quiet revolution" against food waste. As founder and executive director of Circle City Food Recovery, Santos has built an organization that has redirected more than 2.5 million pounds of surplus food from landfills to local families in need over the past four years.

"When I first moved to the Fountain Square neighborhood in 2018, I was shocked to see perfectly good produce being thrown away behind grocery stores while people in my own community were struggling to put food on the table," Santos said from her organization's headquarters on East Washington Street. "It just didn't make sense to me that these two problems couldn't solve each other."

Circle City Food Recovery operates with a network of 45 volunteers who collect surplus food from 23 partner businesses, including grocery stores, restaurants, and catering companies throughout Marion County. The recovered food is then distributed through partnerships with local food pantries, community centers, and churches in neighborhoods including Martindale-Brightwood, Haughville, and the near west side.

From Idea to Impact

Santos, a former marketing professional who left her corporate job to pursue this mission full-time, initially ran the operation from her home near Garfield Park. The organization's growth has been steady but significant – they've expanded from serving 200 families monthly in 2020 to reaching more than 1,800 families each month in 2024.

"Maria has created something truly special here," said Rev. David Mitchell, pastor at New Covenant Baptist Church on the near north side, which serves as one of the organization's distribution points. "She's not just addressing hunger – she's building community connections and showing people that someone cares about their wellbeing."

The organization recently received a boost when local web design firm Indianapolis Web Design donated a complete website overhaul, including an online volunteer scheduling system and digital mapping tools that help optimize food pickup and delivery routes throughout the city.

Looking Ahead

Santos has ambitious plans for 2025, including the launch of a mobile food recovery unit that will expand service to underserved areas in Lawrence, Speedway, and Beech Grove. The organization is also developing partnerships with urban farms near White River State Park to create a complete local food ecosystem.

"Food insecurity affects one in six Indianapolis residents, but food waste is happening at the same time in the same neighborhoods," Santos explained. "We're proving every day that communities can solve their own problems when they have the right tools and support."

Circle City Food Recovery is currently seeking additional volunteers and corporate partners. Those interested in supporting the organization can visit their headquarters at 1247 East Washington Street or attend their monthly volunteer orientation sessions held every second Saturday at the Garfield Park Arts Center.