Leaders at Gleaners Food Bank were confident they had planned adequately to feed hungry clients.
Planning the budget for 2023, they had examined the economy and followed trends on the number of people coming. With a commitment to feed thousands of households through their own food bank, and supporting food banks in 21 counties, they expected numbers to climb from the previous year but not by much.
The budget is already being stretched.
“Despite having conservatively planned this year for a significant increase in our food budget, our recent distributions are running well over that increased budget,” said Fred Glass, CEO and president of Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana. “My big concern is that even this record budget may not be enough.”
Gleaners, like food pantries throughout Johnson County and the area, are seeing unprecedented need from the community this holiday season. The surge of people facing food insecurity is putting increased strain on local organizations and requiring even more support from the community.
Despite the record need, those who work to eliminate food insecurity are dedicated to meeting the need, and hope the public continues to help them in their work.
“With the rise in the prices of groceries and gas and utilities, more and more people are walking in saying they never thought they’d have to come in and ask for food for their family,” said Kerry Carmichael, executive director of The Refuge in Greenwood. “Here they are, struggling to make ends meet.”
Food insecurity is on the rise across the United States, and Indiana is no different.
According to U.S. Department of Agriculture’s food insecurity data – a way of measuring food hardship analyzed by Hunger Free America – across Indiana, 11.1% of Indiana residents — approximately 742,000 people — lived in food insecure households from 2020 to 2022. That figure includes 213,681 children in the state, 263,677 employed adults and 110,308 of older Indiana residents.
Hunger Free America, a national nonprofit group working to enact the policies and programs needed to end domestic hunger, analyzed this data and released a report on food insecurity on Dec. 26. In their estimation, the dramatic rise in hungry people is due to the expiration of the expanded Child Tax Credit and universal school meals.
“Effective federal public policies over the previous few years were spectacularly successful in stemming U.S. hunger, but as many of those policies have been reversed, hunger has again soared,” said Joel Berg, CEO of Hunger Free America, in a press release. “Just as no one should be surprised if drought increases when water is taken away, no one should be shocked that when the government takes away food, as well as money to buy food, hunger rises.”
Staff members and volunteers at the Interchurch Food Pantry in Franklin see this play out every weekday.
Cars start lining up at the pantry well before it opens each day. Families struggling with food insecurity will wait for an hour or more in the pantry’s parking lot to make sure they get food they need.
Every month seems to be a new record, said Carol Phipps, executive director of the Interchurch Food Pantry.
“We are serving a record number of residents needing food assistance. This is the second year in a row where we’ve seen this increase,” she said in an email. “Many local residents are struggling to make ends meet and are very appreciative to obtain nutritious food for their families.”
Community support is the only way the Interchurch Food Pantry can continue to feed people, Phipps said. As the holiday season passes by and winter sets in, that generosity is going to be even more important.
“Community members can help by donating canned meats, peanut butter and jelly, baking supplies, cooking oil, and toilet paper. Monetary donations go far in meeting the needs,” Phipps said.
At the Refuge, clients come on Tuesday mornings and on Thursday evenings to receive food, household goods, hygiene items and more. Increasingly, the people coming for help have never been to the pantry ever before.
“So far this year, we have had a 25% increase in new families that are coming, but we’re almost tripled of where we’re at last year,” Carmichael said.
The increase appears to have been driven more and more by the rise in food prices and other costs.
“Whereas in the past, something catastrophic happened — they lost a job, they lost a spouse or hours changed or they were cut back, or there was a disability,” Carmichael said. “We still have those, because it happens, but on top of that, the-to-day of trying to make ends meet has been astronomical.”
Gleaners supports several food pantries in Johnson County and throughout central and eastern Indiana. The organization harnesses its bulk buying power to provide millions of meals annually to hungry residents. The organization also operates its own drive-through pantry in addition to offering curb-side service to some clients.
In every facet, Gleaners is seeing the need, Glass said.
“It’s really kind of surprising to me. The pandemic surged and people think we’d be getting back to normal. But we’ve set a record in food distributed this year,” he said.
From July to November, the number of households served in the drive-through pantry rose from 13,045 to 20,685. Throughout the fiscal year 2023, which ended in September, Gleaners distributed 48 million meals throughout its service area — a record — and 17% more than in 2022.
Like other officials working with food insecurity, Glass attributes the massive jump in clients to the ever-climbing cost of living, particularly on rent.
“People are getting killed on increased rents. I’m worried that after the first of the year, and more rent increases take effect, we’re going to see more people pushed into line because of it,” he said.
The decrease in government support and stagnant wages also plays a part in it, Glass said.
“So many of our people have never been in line before. They never thought they’d need charitable food support. They’re what a lot of us would consider middle class,” he said. “Right now, they just can’t make it.”
To support Gleaners’ work, the community can make the most impact by contributing monetarily on the organization’s website, gleaners.org.
“We can leverage those dollars and provide about eight times the value of what they’d be able to use at their local grocery store, due to the investments we’ve made,” Glass said. “I unabashedly encourage people who are interested in helping and can help to do it.
“Any amount matters.”
Where to find help
BEREAN BAPTIST CHURCH
Location: 1191 W. County Line Road, Greenwood, 317-888-4003
Hours: Noon to 2 p.m. second Wednesday of the month
Eligibility: Need photo identification for proof of Johnson County residency. Recipients may visit once a month.
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EDINBURGH FOOD PANTRY
Location: 110 E. Main Cross St., downtown Edinburgh
Hours: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. first Saturday and third Thursday
Eligibility: All are welcome
Information: 812-344-1433
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GRACE POINT CHURCH
Location: 330 W. Whiteland Road, New Whiteland – 317-535-3512
Hours: 2 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays
Eligibility: No residency restrictions, bring a photo ID or current utility bill or mail.
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GREAT HARVEST FOOD PANTRY – GRACE ASSEMBLY OF GOD
Location: 6822 N. U.S. 31, New Whiteland
Hours: Tuesdays and Thursday 2 to 3:45 p.m.; second Saturday-Spanish translators available and third Saturday Chinese/Burmese translators available from 10 to 11:45 a.m.; fourth Friday Senior Community Day (age 60+) noon-1:45 p.m.
Indiana Diaper Source: Free diapers, baby wipes and formula – first and third Saturdays 1-2:30 p.m. ID and birth certificate or guardianship papers for each diaper age child.
Information: 317-535-5640
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HARVEST FOOD PANTRY
Location: Saints Francis and Clare Church, 5901 W. Olive Branch Road, Greenwood
Open: 9 a.m. to noon on the second and fourth Saturday of the month; 10 a.m. to noon second Wednesday of each month; 5 to 7 p.m. fourth Monday of the month
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THE HUB
An outreach of Impact Christian Church
Location: 2800 N. Graham Road, Franklin
Hours: Tuesdays 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Food, clothing, household items available. Donations also accepted.
Information: contact: ICC at 317-346-0452 and Hub coordinator at 317-868-2619
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INTERCHURCH FOOD PANTRY OF JOHNSON COUNTY
Location: 211 Commerce Drive, Franklin
Hours: Noon to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 to 11 a.m. second and fourth Saturdays
Households served once a week in a drive-through, menu approach.
Eligibility: Open to Johnson County residence only, proof of residency required.
Donations: Accepted during hours of operation
Information: 317-736-5090, [email protected]
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JOHNSON COUNTY SENIOR SERVICES
Location: 36 W. County Road 600 N., Whiteland – 317-738-4544
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Delivery is also available
Eligibility: Johnson County resident who must be older than 60 or younger than 60 with a disability.
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LORD’S LOCKER
Location: 101 S. Pleasant St., Trafalgar
Open: Wednesdays: 9 to 11 a.m. for senior citizens (over 60 only). 1 p.m. for heads of household (clients 40 to 59 years). Thursdays: 6 p.m. for heads of household (ages 20 to 39 years).
Donations: Accepted 9 a.m. to noon Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday; 9 a.m. to noon the third Saturday of every month
Eligibility: Should bring a photo ID; social security number; a current paid receipt of a utility, rent or mortgage with current address (P.O. boxes not accepted).
Information: Call for more information: 317-878-7708
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MOUNT PLEASANT CHRISTIAN CHURCH IMPACT CENTER
Location: 381 N. Bluff Road, Greenwood
Hours: Thursdays: 9:15 to 9:40 a.m.; 12:15 to 12:40 p.m.; 6:15 to 6:40 p.m. and Saturdays 9:15 to 9:40 a.m.
Donations: Items may be dropped off 9 a.m. to noon Monday-Tuesday and 9-11 a.m. Saturday.
Eligibility: Adults: photo ID and two pieces of mail with the current address; dependents under age 18, birth certificate or Social Security card.
Information: 317-881-6727 ext. 282
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NEW LIFE FELLOWSHIP CHURCH OF GOD
Location: 720 Main St., Whiteland
Open: 10 a.m. to noon the second Saturday of each month
Information: 317-535-7325
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OUR LADY OF THE GREENWOOD
Location: 335 S. Meridian St., Greenwood
Open: 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 4 to 5:45 p.m. Wednesday; open fourth Saturday of each month from noon to 2 p.m.
Donations: Patrons can make donations at the red cart inside the back door of the church between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Eligibility: Recipients must provide proof of residence with photo ID and must be income qualified depending on household size.
Information: 317-888-2861
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RESTORATION CHURCH FOOD PANTRY
Location: 1550 W. County Road 600 N., Whiteland
Open: 4:30 to 6 p.m. The first Thursday of every month
Drive up under the church awning and they will bring out the pre-packed items to you.
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THE REFUGE
Location: 1150 S. Park Drive, Greenwood
Open: 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays
Donations: Accepted during office or pantry hours
Eligibility: All residents living in Johnson County may visit once per month
Information: 317-889-7338
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SECOND MOUNT PLEASANT BAPTIST CHURCH
Serves Johnson and Shelby counties with the I CARE Food Pantry.
Location: 1540 N. County Road 800 E., Franklin
Open: Second and fourth weekend each month. Fridays 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Questions: Call 317-738-3581, leave a message and someone will return your call.
