Food Pantry Shortages Hit Southern Indiana

By Andi Anderson

Food pantries across Southern Indiana are experiencing record demand as more families struggle with rising living costs and shrinking federal support.

Organizations like Hope Southern Indiana and the Center for Lay Ministries report sharp increases in visits, new clients, and food insecurity.

Hope Southern Indiana saw 590 households in April, 640 in May, and expects to surpass 1,000 in June. Their shelves hit critical lows in May, prompting an emergency social media appeal. The community responded quickly, donating $33,000 worth of food in a week. But leaders say this level of emergency response is not sustainable long-term.

The USDA, through the Dare to Care program, helps supply food pantries. However, reduced supplies and the threat of SNAP benefit cuts are worsening the situation. New USDA guidelines now prevent limiting service based on geography, increasing cross-county demand.

Executive Director Becki Romans stressed the urgency, noting, “We’re really in a time of crisis.” She worries that if the proposed reconciliation bill passes, it could mean more stringent work requirements for SNAP, reducing benefits for many and further burdening food pantries.

At the Center for Lay Ministries in Jeffersonville, director Kara Brown also reports increasing pressure. From January through June, they welcomed 818 new households, nearly 180 more than last year.

Overall visits are up by almost 1,400. Many families are expanding to include relatives in need, with some homes growing from four to eight people.

Making matters worse, funding sources are drying up. A federal pause on Emergency Food and Shelter Program grants left organizations like Brown’s without $21,000 previously used for food purchases.

Despite the challenges, community callouts and fundraisers are helping. Both Romans and Brown agree on the need for ongoing support and stronger protections for SNAP benefits.

Without these, they warn the current crisis will only deepen for families and food providers alike.

Photo Credit: pexels-julia-m-cameron