According to research on hunger by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, an estimated 255,686 children in Indiana live in households that are food insecure; meaning the availability of nutritionally adequate foods is limited or uncertain.
People of different faiths may disagree about the path to spiritual enlightenment, but they can agree that having more than a quarter million hungry children is unacceptable.
That is why the Interfaith Hunger Initiative (IHI) is working everyday to help families in Indianapolis.
“The IHI has brought together people from a wide range of faiths, and collectively we share a common responsibility to see that people are not hungry, especially children,” said David Miner, volunteer executive director of the IHI.
The Interfaith Hunger Initiative is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that includes more than two dozen faith-based organizations that represent the local Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Sikh communities.
Since its launch in 2009, the IHI coalition has procured 275 tons of food for local pantries, and has even offered overseas assistance by feeding 2,700 vulnerable children in Kenya through school lunch programs.
Perhaps the unique aspect of IHI is its Pantry Partner program, which is designed to help get more resources to pantries located at faith based and community institutions in the Indianapolis area.
“Food pantries do an extraordinary job to help people get through the toughest of times as they get back on their feet, and they make all the difference in the world,” said Jim Morris, chairman of the IHI, former president of Lilly Endowment and current executive director of the United Nations World Food Program.
Hundreds of pantries are located at churches, community centers and other institutions throughout the city. However, most are only open limited hours and are overwhelmed due to increased demand from the sluggish economy.
The IHI is making an effort to alleviate this problem by working with Gleaners Food Bank to help increase access to food and getting it to pantries with the organization. Members of churches, temples and mosques within IHI also supply volunteers to help staff pantries, increasing efficiency and hours of availability.
“We are more than glad that the IHC has come alongside to help us reach our goal of serving as many families as possible who are in need, especially at this time of year,” said Rebecca Hersey of Gleaners Food Bank.
IHI has made a commitment to establish at least one pantry partner in each of Marion County’s nine townships.
In two years, the IHI has developed 10 pantries, including three on the Westside in Decatur, Pike and Wayne townships, two north in Center and Washington townships and three east in Lawrence and Warren townships.
The IHC is also known for events that it uses to bring people of various faiths together while raising awareness of poverty in Indianapolis. The most high profile of these occurred last year, with a visit at Conseco Fieldhouse from the Dalai Lama, spiritual leader of millions of the world’s Buddhists and a respected international political figure.
Also popular is the IHI’s Interfaith Thanksgiving Service, which will be jointly held at various locations this year.
“Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised to provide food for thousands of people,” Morris said. “The IHI has worked to be the cornerstone of a larger community commitment to be certain that there is not a single hungry child in Indianapolis.”
Despite the success in fundraising, Miner said financial and volunteer support from the community remains critical to ensuring that IHI achieves its mission. He noted that a $20 donation, would provide 30 meals for a child in Indianapolis, and a year of school lunch for a child in Kenya.
“If anyone wants to give money that’s fine, if they want to give their time that’s fine or if they want to give food, they can do that,” Miner said. “Whatever they want to do to help stop hunger is greatly appreciated.”
For more information about the Interfaith Hunger Initiative (IHI), call (317) 876-1967 or visit www.interfaithhungerinitiative.org. To find the nearest pantry, you may also dial 211.Thanksgiving fellowships
The following are locations for Thanksgiving services sponsored by the Interfaith Hunger Initiative:
Sunday, Nov. 20 -āØCumberland First Baptist,āØ116 S. Muessing St.
Monday, Nov. 21 – Friedens United Church of Christ, āØ8300 S. Meridian St.
Tuesday, Nov. 22 – āØSts Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Cathedral,āØ1347 N. Meridian St.
Tuesday, Nov. 22 -āØUnitarian Universalist Community Church of Hendricks County, āØ95 N. Jefferson St., Danville.
Wednesday, Nov. 23 – Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation,āØ6501 N. Meridian St.
Ā
Ā
Ā
Ā