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In the past 35 years, Westfield, Indiana, has experienced significant growth, expanding 17 times over. A 2023 report ranks it as the sixth-fastest growing city in the United States. Open Doors of Washington Township, established in 1990, has evolved alongside this growth to support residents through food and clothing assistance and referrals to community services.
Carrie Larrison, Vice President of Special Projects at Open Doors, noted that their organization expanded its newest location within three years of opening due to increasing demand. "We are an all-volunteer-run organization, and we serve anyone who lives in Washington Township or who is referred to us by one of our member churches," she said.
Previously, volunteers traveled to another city's Meijer for shopping needs. However, since a Meijer opened in Westfield in 2021—coinciding with Open Doors' new location—the logistics have improved significantly. "The Meijer here in town opened right around when we started a Weekend Food Bag project with our local schools," Larrison explained. This initiative provides weekend food supplies for students who rely on school meals during weekdays.
The program uses Meijer Simply Give gift cards to purchase items like mac and cheese and granola bars for easy distribution every Friday. The growing family population in Westfield contributes to increased demand for such services.
Meijer Simply Give allows Open Doors flexibility in purchasing diverse food items that meet families' preferences. Larrison emphasized the importance of variety: "We want visitors to be able to choose from different veggies and fruits."
This focus on variety also influenced changes in holiday food programs at Open Doors. Instead of providing uniform perishable goods, they now offer Food-Only Gift Cards from Meijer Simply Give, allowing families to prepare culturally appropriate holiday meals. "That is a big impact on the families and their dignity," Larrison remarked.
Larrison concluded by highlighting how these changes reflect an understanding that traditional meals vary among families: "This gives families more flexibility to serve a meal that reflects the winter holiday they celebrate culturally."
