By Andi Anderson
With federal SNAP benefits set to expire, Indianapolis officials and community partners have stepped in to ensure residents don’t go hungry. Mayor Joe Hogsett, alongside Cummins and IU Health, announced $200,000 in emergency funding for food assistance across Marion County and Central Indiana.
“For those who are currently facing food insecurity, I have just one message: Your city is here for you,” Hogsett said during a press conference at Bethel AME Church.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which supports more than 100,000 Marion County residents, will halt benefits on November 1 as the federal government shutdown continues. Attorneys for the administration told federal courts that emergency USDA funds could not be redirected to extend benefits.
The city’s emergency relief funds will go to Gleaners Food Bank, which supports 21 counties in Central Indiana. Gleaners will expand food distribution to meet growing demand. In addition, the city will host 10 free food distribution events in November, offering meals, produce, and essential supplies — with no ID or registration required.
Indy Parks will also provide youth meal programs and local food pantries, while community leaders are urging residents to donate to the Central Indiana Food Relief Fund to sustain efforts.
“Food is not a privilege,” said Fred Payne, CEO of the United Way of Central Indiana. “It is a basic human right.”
Faith leaders like Carlos Perkins of Bethel AME Church emphasized the human impact of the crisis. “Too many of our neighbors are being pushed deeper into hardship,” he said. “This is not simply a policy issue. This is a moral issue.”
The church, the oldest Black congregation in Indianapolis, will serve as one of several food distribution sites as the city mobilizes to keep families fed during the shutdown.
Photo Credit: usda
Categories: Indiana, Rural Lifestyle