Food banks receive state support

INDIANAPOLIS (July 30, 2018) – Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch announced today that the Indiana State Department of Agriculture distributed $300,000 to 11 regional food banks. These funds will be used to provide food assistance and services to Hoosiers in need.

“Food banks across our state are doing truly extraordinary things for those who may need assistance in feeding their families,” Crouch said. “I’ve had the privilege of visiting food banks in Indiana and have witnessed the incredible impact they are making in people’s lives.”

According to Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, the state’s food bank association, 1 in 7 Indiana residents is food insecure. Additionally, more than 280,000 children in Indiana don’t know where their next meal is coming from.

Emily Weikert Bryant, executive director of FIsH, believes this funding will provide additional nutritious food options for these food bank clients.

“State funding through the ISDA enables additional purchases of food for distribution to Hoosiers at risk of hunger,” Bryant said. “Most of the food distributed through our network is donated from retail and food producers, with privately raised funding spent to purchase much needed or rarely donated items. With this state funding, our food banks can purchase fluid milk, produce and high demand shelf stable food.”

This funding was provided by the Indiana Legislature, as part of the 2017 biennial budget. The distribution amounts were determined using the Emergency Food Assistance Program fair share percentage, which captures poverty and unemployment levels in each county.

“Food insecurity impacts every community and is something we must constantly be looking at,” said Bruce Kettler, ISDA director. “We know this funding won’t solve the problem, but every little bit helps. I commend our state legislators for recognizing the importance of this issue, as well as those working on the front lines to address it.”

The following list includes the food banks that received funding for fiscal year 2018.

• Community Harvest Food Bank – $30,990
• Dare to Care – $10,890
• Food Bank of Northern Indiana – $36,060
• Food Bank of Northwest Indiana – $30,960
• Food Finders Food Bank, Inc. – $28,770
• FreeStore – $7,410
• Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, Inc. – $83,100
• Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Inc. – $14,040
• Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central IN, Inc. – $24,570
• Terre Haute Catholic Food Bank, Inc. – $14,190
• Tri- State Food Bank, Inc. – $19,020

Indiana’s 11 regional food banks provide food to around 1,800 local nonprofit agencies and programs in all 92 counties.

To learn more about ISDA, please visit www.isda.in.gov.