Fred Glass, head of Gleaners Food Bank, gave a stark warning about proposed cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which could lead to a humanitarian and economic disaster in Indiana and across the country.

The proposed cuts are part of the President’s spending proposal and involve a $300 billion reduction in SNAP funding, with Indiana facing a potential loss of $353 million. This reduction would translate to 133 million fewer meals for Hoosiers in need, affecting 610,000 residents who rely on the program, including 264,000 children and 90,000 senior citizens.

“The facts really speak for themselves, and they needed to be said,” Glass said. Glass expressed hope that the Senate, as the more deliberative body, would reconsider the proposed cuts, stating, “Hopefully, the Senate will find that that’s too high a price to be paid to fund tax cuts for the wealthy.”

Glass highlighted that the SNAP program has historically been federally funded, with no state money involved. He pointed out that the entire charitable food system in Indiana, comprising 11 food banks, created 108 million meals last year, which isn’t enough to cover the shortfall if the cuts proceed. He also addressed misconceptions about SNAP recipients, noting that they are often working individuals, children, disabled, or elderly people; not people taking advantage of the system.

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Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana on Thursday had a ceremonial opening for the Tom and Julie Wood Family Resource Center on Waldemere Avenue.

The center was designed to expand Gleaners’ services to include legal aid, a pharmacy, and a medical clinic.

The resource center aims to support the 4,000 families the food bank serves monthly, addressing food insecurity and providing additional resources to improve community health and well-being.

Gennesaret Free Clinics will operate the medical clinic, offering medical exams and preventative care to meet what’s described as a growing demand for health care services in the community.

The clinic on Monday will begin seeing patients. It’s at Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana’s food distribution center, 3737 Waldemere Ave., which is southeast of the I-70 and I-465 interchange on the southwest side of Indianapolis.

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The Indy Health District is launching a Floating Farmers Market to bring nutritious food options to underserved neighborhoods, starting May 30 at 21st and Capitol.

The Floating Farmers Market will rotate among five neighborhoods within the Indy Health District, which currently lacks grocery stores. This initiative aims to improve access to healthy food, education and mental health resources.

The Indy Health District covers an area between IU Methodist Hospital and Crown Hill Cemetery, encompassing over 1,500 acres. Residents in this area have a life expectancy in their mid-60s, significantly lower than nearby Hamilton County.

The Floating Farmers Market represents a significant step towards addressing food deserts in the Indy Health District, with hopes of eventually establishing permanent grocery stores in the area.

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