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.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

During National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, Wish TV highlighted the nutritional benefits of potatoes for active families.

Sports dietitian and nutrition expert Kelly Jones explained that potatoes are a high-quality carbohydrate that provides essential nutrients such as potassium, vitamin C, fiber, and protein.

With their nutritional benefits and versatility in recipes, potatoes can be a valuable addition to the diet of active families, providing sustained energy and essential nutrients.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Indiana state government has canceled a summer groceries program for families with kids.

The decision has raised concerns about food security for families.

Last summer, some Hoosier families a crucial boost of $120 per child for grocery assistance while schools were closed. It benefited around 669,000 children.

Groceries purchased with SUN Bucks could be paired with free summer meals and meal-to-go options to help ensure kids do not go hungry while schools aren’t in session for the summer. However, Indiana has cut the federal program after just one year, and, for many, the only remaining option is meal sites.

Gov. Mike Braun’s office and the Indiana Department of Agriculture did not immediately reply to News 8 requests to find out why the program was cut and what was the cost to operate it. The Department of Education shared a statement.

Throughout the summer, families can find Summer Food Service Program locations through the Site Finder Map or through the Hunger Hotline. The Hunger Hotline can be reached from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. ET weekdays at 866-348-6479 for English language or 877-842-6273 for Spanish language.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With soaring prices and many varieties of eggs, you want to make sure you’re getting what you think you’re paying for. Consumer Reports deciphers those confusing egg labels and explains what they mean.

Cage-free means that the hens are not kept in cages, but it doesn’t mean they’re clucking around in the fresh air and sunshine. They can still be kept indoors, often in crowded conditions.

An organic label means eggs come from hens fed grains without synthetic pesticides or GMOs. The birds cannot be raised in cages or given antibiotics. They must have some outdoor access. There’s no standard definition of pastured-raised. However, the Certified Humane or the American Humane Certified labels require chickens to have access to a pasture with enough space for natural behaviors, like pecking for seeds and bugs.

Free-range birds are not kept in cages and have outdoor access, but they can still be raised in crowded conditions, and the outdoor area can be tiny.

Consumer Reports says the words farm fresh and natural are basically meaningless. All eggs come from “farms,” even if the farm is a big building where chickens are packed into cages. So, this labeling claim has no value. The term “fresh” generally means the product hasn’t been frozen, but eggs in the shell should never be frozen. Also, an egg is a natural food product, so slapping “natural” on it has no clearly defined additional meaning.

With eggs fast becoming an egg-stravagant splurge, knowing precisely what you’re paying for is essential!

Don’t be so quick to throw out expired eggs. The USDA says eggs may be refrigerated for three to five weeks from the day they are placed in the fridge. The “Sell-By” date will usually expire during that time, but they will be perfectly safe to use.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Volunteers with Bank of America on Tuesday rolled up their sleeves to fight food insecurity right here in Indiana.

It’s all part of the Million Meal Initiative.

Fifty volunteers gathered at an office near 96th Street and College Avenue to pack more than 5,000 casserole meals to feed hungry families. The co-founder of million meals tells us that food insecurity in Indiana is higher than the national average.

Nancy Hintz, executive director and co-founder of the Million Meal Movement, said, “This is what makes this kind of work so valuable to the state of Indiana, everyone gets involved.”

In Indiana alone, 1 million people – including 1 in 5 children – don’t know where they’ll get their next meal.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.