STATEHOUSE — Members of the General Assembly have joined forces in the fight against Hoosier hunger. Partnering with Feeding Indiana’s Hungry Inc., a statewide association of Feeding America affiliated food banks, lawmakers are working to raise awareness and assist with the state’s domestic hunger relief efforts through the month of February. All four caucus leaders participated in a public service announcement which can be viewed at: http://youtu.be/cqfNSUt6pXw (30 seconds) or http://youtu.be/m9Z4ba-ilew (60 seconds) to kick off the month of awareness. “Nationally, 54 percent of food bank clients have visited a food pantry monthly for at least six months or more over the past year,” said Rep. Rhonda Rhoads (R-Corydon). “These are our friends and our neighbors, and I applaud all of the churches and other organizations in our community who strive every day to ensure that no Hoosier goes hungry. They are truly making a difference.” “Having worked with children for a large part of my life, I am painfully aware of how accurate these statistics are,” said Rep. Rhoads. “Feeding Indiana’s Hungry helps tackle the problem of food insecurity and improve the lives of Hoosier families.” Feeding Indiana’s Hungry has 11 regional member food banks, each serving a specific geographic area. The food banks supply food to more than 1700 local soup kitchens, homeless shelters, church pantries, day cares and other nonprofits. The food banks provide sustenance for roughly 117,900 Hoosiers each week throughout all 92 counties, giving emergency food assistance to those in need. “Feeding Indiana's Hungry and our member food banks are thankful for the attention that the Indiana General Assembly and its caucus leaders are giving to hunger,” said Emily Bryant, Executive Director of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry. “One in six is at risk of hunger in Indiana, and those Hoosiers live in every county and every legislative district across the state. By coming together, we can shed light on the shadows of hunger and bring our neighbors together to prevent anyone in our state from worrying about where to find their next meal.” To join in the fight against hunger, there are many ways to participate. By visiting www.feedingindianashungry.org or calling 2-1-1, you can locate a food bank or food agency near you. -30- |
