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Indiana-based nonprofit tackles food insecurity by increasing access to protein

An Indiana-based hunger relief organization is working to close the protein gap for food insecure families.

Daniel Leckie, CEO of Hatch, says the nonprofit recently launched its Coalition to Close the Protein Gap.

“We work with the largest egg producers here in the state of Indiana,” he says. “We work with the largest meat companies, the same ones that you would see in a retail setting. We work with them. We want to ensure that families can see that food, consume that food, and then hopefully use either their own dollars or government dollars through SNAP and WIC to buy that food.”

He tells Brownfield charitable food organizations rely on support from local farmers.

“This is an initiative with farmers, for farmers, to close this gap within the charitable food system,” he says. “We hope to create this payload effect for the industry. Protein is good, the dietary guidelines are accurate, and we think that they can help reduce chronic disease risk. The one thing that you need at the center of every plate is protein.”

Leckie says Hatch delivered more than 102 million meals to 120 food banks in 2025.

AUDIO: Daniel Leckie, Hatch