Empty Plates Full Stories Episode 1: Join Holland and Jess as they speak with Indiana State Senate candidate Cindy Clayton as they talk about her campaign and how she's working to bring awareness to food insecurity in her communities. Cindy advocates for more education and awareness of families living in food deserts and how the State Senate can work toward that.

In this episode of Empty Plates; Full Stories, we speak with Lisa Vaughan, director of Feed Evansville, about how food insecurity affects individuals and families across Southwest Indiana. Vaughan explains that food insecurity often impacts working households facing rising costs and limited access to resources, challenging common assumptions about who is affected. She also traces the organization’s growth from its origins during the COVID-19 pandemic to its current role as a central hub for food distribution and community support.

The episode highlights Feed Evansville’s large-scale food distribution efforts, partnerships with local organizations, and initiatives focused on dignity and choice, including community-based grocery options. Vaughan emphasizes that food insecurity is connected to broader issues such as housing, employment, and healthcare, and that addressing it requires coordinated community effort. Listeners are encouraged to understand the issue as a local reality and consider ways to contribute through volunteering, donations, and increased awareness.