Local organizations fight food insecurity by providing nutritious options for youth and communities.
One in five children in Indiana faces hunger and 46% of the households receiving SNAP benefits have children, according to a 2023 study from Feeding America. Local advocates say the disparity is not just about having access to food; it’s also about having access to nutritious foods and knowledge about healthy cooking.
The USDA defines low food security as “reduced quality, variety or desirability of diet” which may or may not include a reduction in food access. In other words, there may be food available, but the food has little nutritional value.
It starts with access
The Success Center, a community resource agency located near the Carriage House East apartments on the city’s northeast side, is doing its part to provide healthy meal options for residents and families through their food pantry.
In the city’s food deserts, grocery stores are not easily accessible. For families without reliable transportation, taking the bus to the nearest market presents yet another challenge.
“A lot of us … don’t have a car; we’re on the bus line,” said Shanna King, a resident at Carriage House East and a mother of three. “(The pantry) is a four-to-five-minute walk … so, it’s very convenient to have it here where we stay.”
Food insecurity can happen to anyone, King said, especially as the cost of living rises.
“You’re almost one paycheck away from being unhoused. And when I say food insecurity, it’s really having quality food as well. So, (that means) having access to fresh fruits and vegetables where we live on the far east side,” King said.
Residents can visit the pantry or even volunteer. Success Center Manager Sharvonne Walker said the food options have expanded in the time since she’s been with the organization.
“The pantry originally started in an empty apartment and (the food was) pre-bagged,” Walker said. “Now, residents have choices so they can pick what fruits and vegetables that they want, what dairy items and meat items they want. So, (we’re) giving them more opportunities for access.”
Pantry items are intended to be supplemental, helping to fill in gaps where needed. Residents can pick up a pasta sauce to go with the noodles and meat they already have or a protein to complete their meal, along with condiments and seasonings.
At A Longer Table, an organization that partners with schools to prepare healthy meals for students, Culinary Director Shannon Mitchell said access to nutritious foods is pivotal for youth.
“We’re promoting healthy relationships with food. We’re promoting autonomy and making choices,” Mitchell said.
This autonomy is evident in how A Longer Table plans meals, working alongside students, staff and stakeholders to develop menus.
“One thing that we are doing this year is really trying to engage the students,” Mitchell said. “The students are making those decisions and giving that feedback and (they’re) also promoting those items amongst their peers.”
Having the students’ stamp of approval goes a long way in getting their peers to try new foods, which helps with the overall mission of increasing food security.
“When you imagine the amount of time that kids spend in school, it just is a no-brainer that this is a powerful place to do this work. It’s where change can happen,” Mitchell said.
Keeping it fresh
Carriage House East surveyed more than 100 residents in 2023. Results showed that fruits and vegetables were the top two categories of foods missing from their diets.
“Oftentimes, they say food is medicine and that is 100% true,” Walker said. “So, that’s why we emphasize a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables.”
King’s children look forward to the produce they will pick up on their next visit to the pantry.
“My little one, his favorite is avocados and pineapples,” King said. She has also participated in the Cooking Matters program where people learn to make healthy meals.
The Success Center pantry even offers fresh herbs from the community garden such as basil, rosemary, thyme and cilantro. While some supplies may be limited, families still have a fresh selection to choose from.
“You’re making a choice between a cantaloupe and a pineapple, but you’re still getting fresh fruit,” said Walker.
A Longer Table’s urban farm, located on east 46th street, grows lots of produce – from leafy greens to spicy edible flowers. The farm is also home to a coop full of chickens laying eggs. Students visit the farm while attending culinary programs offered throughout the year. With more exposure to new foods, students can expand their appetite for healthy choices.
As Mitchell met with more students, she was surprised to learn some students were not familiar with produce in its natural form. A number of elementary students have even asked her, ‘Is this a fruit or a vegetable?’
She recognized then that some students had only seen fruits or vegetables that were frozen or canned. Now, many students make a bee line for salad.
“Salads are very popular, even among young kids,” Mitchell said. “On the days that we have side salads, I would say that 90% of the kids take a side salad.”
More than a meal
For Mitchell, preparing nutritious meals for students is about much more than food. It’s also about bringing communities back together. As a trained chef with a background in hospitality serving large-scale events, she did not imagine herself working in school cafeterias.
“But when I learned about the mission (at A Longer Table) … I felt that I could lend my years of experience in volume production to, and also with, high-quality foods to the school systems, then it was an easy choice for me,” Mitchell said.
The Success Center offers a variety of resources outside of the pantry. The center is a satellite location for Dress for Success, supporting male and females with job readiness skills. They also offer monthly community dinners where other organizations share information such as expunging a criminal record and discussing increases in bus fares. The center even offers camps during school breaks.
“I want to make sure that we’re giving resources to residents that they can put in their back pocket,” Walker said.
The community dinners have helped to reach another of Walker’s goals – building intentional relationships between residents and staff.
“It’s good to have a place that will help you, that’s here to help you,” King said.
More information about A Longer Table is available at alongertable.org. More information about the Success Center is available at successcentereast.com.
Contact Editor-in-Chief Camike Jones at 317-762-7850 or camikej@indyrecorder.com.
Camike Jones is the Editor-in-Chief of the Indianapolis Recorder. Born and raised in Indianapolis, Jones has a lifelong commitment to advocacy and telling stories that represent the community.
