Food Banks Spotlight, celebrating 40 years!

Our member food banks are celebrating big milestones! Recently, Food Finders Food Bank in Lafayette celebrated their 40 year anniversary. On October 16, 1981 on World Food Day in a small, two-car garage, “Mid-North Indiana Food Finders, Inc.” began its operations. For 40 years, Food Finders Food Banks  has been fighting hunger and giving hope. Read more about their history and success in Lafayette. 

Food Bank of Northwest Indiana in Merrillville achieved a milestone and is celebrating 40 years of "nourishing our neighbors" by providing hunger relief services to food insecure individuals and families in our community. They are hosting an evening of celebration featuring dinner, cash bar, silent auction, and musical entertainment. "A lot has happened for good in the past 40 years, but hunger persists at a stubbornly high rate, " Victor A. Garcia, President & CEO.

Feeding Indiana’s Hungry received several donations and grants this past year to address food insecurity in Indiana. The donations are instrumental in helping make sure we can be there for our neighbors in need during times of uncertainty.

Advocacy Update from Emily Weikert Bryant

HEA 1001, SB 3 (which was amended into HEA 1001 at the end of session, contained the three executive authority measures Gov. Holcomb asked for including SNAP EA), HEA 1354, and HEA 1410.

HEA 1354 started with some dangerous and punitive provisions that would restrict access to SNAP. In the end, HEA 1354 became a topic for interim study should the Legislative Council assign it. We welcome the opportunity to further discuss in depth the state options for SNAP.

HEA 1410 put into law a policy requiring ‘job search’ activity to apply for TANF. [Read testimony] The bill was ultimately amended to provide FSSA some flexibility in times of high unemployment or situations like a public health emergency.

Important information about pandemic-related emergency SNAP benefits

Due to the end of the state public health emergency on March 3, 2022, and a recent change in Indiana law, the last month that Hoosiers will receive emergency enhanced SNAP benefits is May 2022.

Read more about pandemic-related emergency SNAP benefits.