Mobile food pantry to serve Indy’s high-crime neighborhoods

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – A local food bank is teaming with the city’s public safety agencies to feed people that need it the most.

For the second summer in a row, city leaders and Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana are sending a mobile food bank into six high-crime neighborhoods.

“Children are telling us they will sometimes turn to petty crime just to try to provide food for themselves and their brothers and sisters,” IMPD Chief Troy Riggs said. “That isn’t something any child should have to worry about.”

The CARE Mobile Food Pantry will be manned by volunteers from IMPD, IFD, IEMS and the community.

Last year, the program served more than 62,000 people, including 28,000 children.

“It’s heartbreaking because the need is so high,” Kathy Hahn Keiner of Gleaners said. “It’s heartwarming because people in these neighborhoods are very grateful for the services they receive.”

Hahn Keiner said two of the neighborhoods they’ll serve lost a Double 8 grocery store when the chain closed last summer.

This year, organizers plan to include mental health resources, a book exchange and nutrition education.

The pantry will run from June 6 to August 27. Dates and locations are:

· Mondays – 4 – 6 p.m. – Mt. Zion Apostolic Church, 4900 E. 38th St. (closed July 4)

· Tuesdays – 4 -6 p.m. – Kroger Parking lot, 2630 W. Michigan St. (across from IMPD Southwest District HQ)

· Wednesdays – 4 – 6 p.m. – Eastside Community Baptist Church, 438 Wallace Ave.

· Thursdays – 4 – 6 p.m. – Christ Our King Church, 2701 N. California St.

· Saturdays – 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Trinity Episcopal Church, 3243 N. Meridian St.

· Saturdays – 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Fervent Prayer Church, 10512 E. 38th St.

CARE information is available at 317.829.1800. The pantries are open to the public and no ID is required. Residents are asked to bring their own bags or boxes.