It is our strongly held belief that food access and equity is an essential part of the equity and justice we strive for in our communities.
Accessing food isn’t always easy in our state. Accessing healthy, nutritious food, less easy still. Feeding America’s 2018 study states that 883,260 people in Indiana are food insecure. In the same year a report by SAVI- a program of The Polis Center at IUPUI- found that in Indianapolis alone, 200,000 residents live in food deserts. We can’t ignore that this inequity is most keenly felt by Black residents, people in poverty, and people without transportation. What’s more, these statistics are pre- pandemic, which is taking an additional toll.
(Nick Selm and co-workers at Flanner Farm. Photo courtesy of Nick Selm)
We are here to uplift those in our communities who fight for better food access, and who provide resources for those in need. You can also scroll down for resources and reading lists.
Organizations and initiatives working on food equity, access, and justice in Indiana, by geographic region:
(All of those listed here have confirmed that they serve all folks in their geographic/target areas, regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, language, sexual orientation, health, or disability)
Indianapolis and Marion County
Eastern Indiana (Coming soon)
Western Indiana (Coming soon)
Other tools and resources:
Food Assistance Availability Map from the Division of Family Resources.
Purdue Health and Human Sciences Extension - Food page.
Community Compass food finding resources.
Reading and media:
Indiana
Food finder app Community Compass expands statewide (Indiana Public Media) (December 2021)
5 acres of food in 80 feet: Urban farmer grows a garden in the heart of Indianapolis (Indy Star) (May 2021)
Group plans community gardens to address food insecurity (Daily Journal) (April 2021)
Raised garden beds help connect more people to food (Indianapolis Recorder) (April 2021)
Soil Health Urban Farm Tour set for April 23 (Indiana Environmental Reporter) (April 2021)
Living Richly and Buying Locally in Paoli (Indiana Environmental Reporter) (March 2021)
FOOD INSECURITY: Local pantries see increasing demand, hungry families (The Republic, Columbus IN) (November 2020)
A garden on Indy’s near northwest side (NUVO) (November 2020)
Shelton Heights neighborhood volunteer initiatives continue to grow (NUVO) (October 2020)
‘From blight to light’ - FAITH Farms and Orchard feature on Indiana Environmental Reporter. (October 2020)
A Plague of Pandemics (Edible Indy) (October 2020)
The Neighbor Loaves Project: feeding people through feeding businesses, one loaf at a time (Edible Indy) (October 2020)
Our fragile food systems: An interview with Joshua Gruver (NUVO) (September 2020)
SEED Brown County Grows Interest in Grassroots Gardening (Indiana Environmental Reporter) (September 2020)
National and International
The Preservation of Culture Begins With a Seed - Black seed keepers are recovering African American history (Sierra Club) (February 2021)
Grocery store on wheels brings fresh food to areas to areas without supermarket (WHIO in Ohio) (November 2020)
How Four Years of Trump Reshaped Food and Farming (Civil Eats) (November 2020)
Hunger Crisis: 1 in 5 Americans Turning to Food Banks (Consumer Reports) (November 2020)
Thanks to Outdated Laws, Growing Your Own Food Can Be Illegal (Sierra Magazine) (October 2020)
Federal judge strikes down Trump plan to slash food stamps for 700,000 unemployed Americans (Washington Post) (October 2020)
Wild Food for All- Read about Alexis Nikole Nelson aka The Black Forager, a wild food enthusiast from Nelson, Ohio (Sierra Magazine) (September 2020)
Why Today’s Social Revolutions Include Kale, Medical Care, And Help With Rent (Zócalo Public Square) (July 2020)
Gardens Have Pulled America Out of Some of Its Darkest Times. We Need Another Revival (Mother Jones) (May 2020)