INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Two food banks that serve Southeastern Indiana are among 11 across the state that will receive a combined total of $1 million to support their efforts in feeding Hoosiers in need.
FreeStore Foodbank will receive $9,000, while Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana is in line for $318,200
“This funding provided by the Indiana General Assembly will go far in assisting Hoosiers with food and other basic necessities,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, who also serves as the Indiana Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “Food banks and pantries are vital in their communities around the state, and they cannot do their work without adequate funding and volunteers. I am proud to support their efforts in making Hoosier families and seniors more food secure.”
According to Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, while the long lines outside of food banks and food pantries may not have been as noticeable in 2021 as the year before, nearly 1 in 6 Americans received food assistance from the charitable sector last year.
“Our member food banks continue to see clients in numbers well above 2019 levels. New and pressing challenges – including war abroad and inflation and higher costs of food, gas, and other necessities – are impacting the ability of individuals and families, especially those with lower incomes, to make ends meet. For any Hoosier to be unsure from where their next meal will come is unacceptable,” said Emily Bryant, executive director of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry. “We’re grateful for the support of the General Assembly, Lt. Gov. Crouch, and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) for providing additional support to our members to enable them to increase their capacity and ability to serve their communities.”
ISDA Director Bruce Kettler hopes this increased funding will go a long way in supporting these organizations.
“I am proud that this vital funding flows from the General Assembly through our department to assist these food banks in providing food and nutritional assistance to those who need it most,” said Kettler.
The funding was provided by the Indiana Legislature, as part of its biennial budget.
The distribution amounts were determined using The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TFAP) fair share percentages for Indiana, which captures poverty and unemployment levels in each county.
Visit isda.in.gov to learn more about the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.
To learn more about Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, visit feedingindianashungry.org.
