Local food pantry shelves are lined with canned vegetables, jars of peanut butter and thousands of other non-perishable items donated in recent weeks by people wanting to help their neighbors in need.
Now local food pantries are trying to figure out how they can get the eggs, meat, milk and other fresh food they need to feed the thousands of people expected to visit the rest of this winter after the surge in donations the holiday season brings has ended.
Local food pantries fed a record amount of people in December. And during that time, churches, schools and businesses ran food drives that collected enough canned goods and boxed items to get pantries through January and likely the rest of winter.
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The struggle now is reminding the community of the need for donations to make sure local families can get fresh food, such as eggs, milk and fruits and vegetables, to supplement the canned food items they received over the holidays, pantry managers said.
“Any time after January, people forget that poverty doesn’t really have a holiday,” said Marcie Farley, office coordinator at the The Refuge in Greenwood.
Interchurch Food Pantry had their busiest December in history, feeding 1,595 households.
Now, organizers at the largest pantry in the county are looking for specific items that people do not think to donate, such as sliced white bread, cereal, juice and crackers, said Carol Phipps, pantry manager.
“Every morning, this is what families start their days with,” she said.
Most food pantries see their biggest crowds over the holidays, with people seeking help to feed their families while trying to set aside money to celebrate the holidays, pantry managers have said.
Higher than normal winter utility bills will continue to deplete families’ finances, Phipps said.
“It is your perfect storm of factors that cause people to not have enough to get by,” Phipps said.
January and February are expected to be busy months for area food pantries.
“In January, people have depleted their covers over the holidays,” Phipps said.
The IMPACT Center through Mount Pleasant Christian Church in Greenwood hosts an event after church services to remind people that the food pantry is still there and will still need donations to get through the winter, said Steve Saunders, director of the IMPACT Center.
“It is not the holiday season, people are not as tuned in to the need,” he said.
“Life starts again in January and bills come, there is not as much available for people to give.”
But the need continues, and some of the items they need are not often donated, pantry managers said.
For example, the IMPACT Center also runs a clothing pantry that is in need of clothing, especially winter clothing in plus sizes, Saunders said. The Refuge in Greenwood could use donations of toilet paper, diapers and women’s hygiene supplies, which are scarcely donated and are in extra demand since those items are not covered by food stamps, Farley said.
Pantry managers can budget the donations they received in December to make sure everyone gets fed. However, additional donations and food drives would help them get through the winter, Farley said.
“It is the long winter months, and people don’t think about it as much,” she said.
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Need help or want to help?
Here is a listing of local food pantries in the county, when they are open and how to donate:
» CARE Food Pantry
Location: 2911 S. Morgantown Road, Greenwood
Hours: 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Friday when Center Grove schools are in session.
Eligibility: Recipients must provide photo ID as well as proof of residence in Johnson County. Recipients may visit the pantry once a month.
Donations: Food and toiletries are accepted when school is in session from 9 to 11 a.m. Fridays. For large donations, call the office to arrange a time for drop-off.
Information: 317-885-5242
» Christ United Methodist Church Food Pantry
Location: 8540 U.S. 31 South, Indianapolis
Hours: 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday.
Eligibility: Marion County residents and Johnson County residents who have 46142 and 46143 area codes.
Information: 317-882-1549
» Great Harvest Food Pantry — Grace Assembly of God
Location: 6822 U.S. 31 North, New Whiteland
Hours: 2 to 4 p.m. or 5 to 7 p.m. alternating Thursdays; 9 to 11 a.m. last Saturday of the month.
Information: 317-535-5640
» His Hand Extended Food and Clothing Pantry
Location: Trinity broadcasting, 2528 U.S. 31 South, Greenwood
Hours: 10 a.m. Thursday; a devotional service follows sign-in.
Eligibility: Services available to residents of Johnson, Morgan, Monroe, Jennings, Shelby and Bartholomew counties. A photo ID is required. Limited to first 30 households each week.
Donations: Non-perishable food items, clothing and small household items may be dropped off 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Information: 317-535-5542
» 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. Saturday.
Donations: Accepted during hours of operation. The pantry is also in need of sliced white bread, juice, crackers and hot and cold cereals.
Eligibility: Recipients must provide proof of residence in Johnson County; clients may visit twice per month.
Information: 317-736-5090, [email protected].
Johnson County Senior Services
Location: 731 S. State St., Franklin.
Hours: Individuals may call to place a food request and their order may be picked up the next business day. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Donations may be delivered during business hours.
Information: 317-738-4544
» Mount Pleasant Christian Church Impact Center
Location: 381 N. Bluff Road, Greenwood
Hours: Clients must be in the building during one of the following sign-in times: 9:15 to 9:40 a.m., 12:15 to 12:40 p.m., 6:15 to 6:40 p.m. Thursdays; and 9:15 to 9:40 a.m. Saturdays. Devotion and prayer will be shared prior to shopping at all client service times. Households may receive food one time per week and clothing one time per month.
Donations: Items may be dropped off 9 a.m. to noon Monday and Tuesday, 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday. The pantry is in need of plus-size winter clothing.
Eligibility: Adults — photo ID and two pieces of mail with the current address; dependents under age 18 — birth certificate or Social Security card.
Information: 317-889-9650
» Lord’s Locker
Location: 101 S. Pleasant St., Trafalgar
Open: Wednesday, 9 to 11 a.m. for senior citizens (over 60 only; clients must be in the building by 9:30 a.m. to receive food); 1 p.m. for heads of household (clients 40 to 59 years; must be in the building by 1:30 p.m. to receive food). Thursday, 6 p.m. for heads of household (ages 20 to 39 years; must be in the building by 6:30 p.m. to receive food). Devotion and prayer will be followed by food distribution and shopping.
Donations: Accepted 9 a.m. to noon Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. to noon the third Saturday of every month.
Eligibility: All new clients will be interviewed and evaluated for Strategies of Success programming. Clients will receive prayer and biblical counseling and other aid, such as job search help. Potential new clients can interview from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays. Potential clients should bring a photo ID, Social Security numbers for the head of household, spouse and children under 18, a current paid receipt of a utility, rent or mortgage with current address (P.O. boxes not accepted). Photo IDs will be required with each visit. Services will only be offered to residents of Johnson, Morgan and Brown counties. Non-residents will be given a list of other places to go for help.
Information: 317-878-7708
» 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, whitelandnewlifecog.com
» Our Lady of the Greenwood
Location: 335 S. Meridian St., Greenwood
Open: 11 a. m. to 2 p. m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, except when parish office is closed.
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. Call the church for large donations.
Eligibility: Recipients must provide proof of residence with photo ID and must be income-qualified depending on household size.
Information: 317-888-2861
» The Refuge
Location: 65 Airport Parkway, Suite 114, Greenwood
Open: 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday.
Donations: Accepted during office or pantry hours
Eligibility: All residents living in Johnson County may visit once per month.
Information: 317-889-7338
» SS. Francis & Clare Parish Harvest
Location: 5901 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.
Donations: Donations can be brought from 9 a.m. to noon the second and fourth Saturday.
Eligibility: All residents of Johnson and Morgan counties may visit the pantry once a month. Recipients must bring proof of residency and a photo ID.
Information: 317-859-4673
» The Salvation Army Food Pantry
Location: 325 Market Plaza, Greenwood
Open: 12:30 to 2:45 p.m., Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Eligibility: Clients must be Johnson County residents and must bring the following information to receive help: proof of address, photo ID and proof of income meeting federal poverty guidelines for assistance for everyone over the age of 18. Clients may visit the pantry every 60 days and provide information listed above each time they visit.
Information: Contact Ricky Hayes at the times listed above, 881-2505.
» Share ‘n’ Care Food Pantry
Location: 200 Sunset Blvd., Greenwood
Open: Noon and 3 p.m. Friday. Pantry also is closed during the winter in case of inclement weather. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Eligibility: All clients must present a Social Security card, driver’s license and proof of residency.
Information: 317-881-5743
» The Social of Greenwood
Location: 550 Polk St., Greenwood
Open: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday (closed every third Thursday) and 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday
Eligibility: Anyone over age 50 with photo ID. Visits limited to once per week per household.
Information: 882-4810, thesocialofgreenwood.org
» St. Timothy Episcopal Church
Location: 2601 E. Thompson Road, Indianapolis
Open: 10 a.m. to noon and 6 to 8 p.m. the third Tuesday of every month.
Eligibility: Photo ID is required.
Information: 317-784-6925
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