Newsletter- Fall 2020 update from Sierra Club Hoosier Chapter- a food equity special
November 2, 2020
Dear Supporter,
It’s well and truly fall!
Many of us are starting to think about the upcoming holidays, and how we will navigate Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other celebrations, in a year which has been unlike any other.
A big part of these holidays, of course, is the food. While it’s something many may take for granted, accessing food isn’t always easy in our state. Accessing healthy, nutritious food, less easy still. Feeding America’s 2018 study states that 883,260 people in Indiana are food insecure. In the same year a report by SAVI- a program of The Polis Center at IUPUI- found that in Indianapolis alone, 200,000 residents live in food deserts. We can’t ignore that this inequity is most keenly felt by Black residents, people in poverty, and people without transportation. What’s more, these statistics are pre- pandemic , which is taking an additional toll.
It is our strongly held belief that food access and equity is an essential part of the equity and justice we strive for in our communities. It is with this in mind that we decided to make this issue food equity-focused, and spotlight people across the state doing this vital work. We hope you enjoy this special edition.
Also in this issue, our regular feature- recommendations of what we’ve been reading, watching, and listening to. Don’t forget to let us know your recommendations too!
Pastor Curtis A. Whittaker, Sr. of FAITH Farms and Orchard.
FAITH Farms & Orchard (Gary)
Pastor Curtis A. Whittaker, Sr: "FAITH Farms & Orchard is a program of FAITH CDC, which is a ministry of Progressive Community Church of Gary. We are located in the heart of the Gary Downtown Emerson Neighborhood. It is our vision to build capacity and provide support for BIPOC youth and young adults with a demonstrated interest in farming, and to develop a community-driven approach to growing food that will improve food access and economic outlook, as well as build sense of community and improve nutrition education.
We seek to improve food security and access while simultaneously creating opportunities for BIPOC individuals to cultivate growing spaces and farm businesses. We present a holistic approach to addressing the concurrent challenges of food access, job access, the prevalence of blighted spaces in Gary, and the lack of infrastructure and support for emergent farmers through a program we call GARY EATS.
You can access our services by calling us at 219-880-0850.
The community can support our work in the following ways:
1) assisting us in developing new partnerships through which we source our products; 2) volunteering to work at the farm; 3) providing financial support; 4) signing up to purchase a food box through our CSA program; 5) advocating for additional federal, state and local funding for BIPOC growers; 6) providing pro-bono grant support; 7) sharing grant opportunities with us; 8) sharing with others the work we are doing and asking them to get engaged in the work of creating just food systems."
No Questions Asked Food Pantry organizers Amber Toombs, and Matty Slaydon. Photo courtesy of Matty Slaydon/NQAFP.
No Questions Asked Food Pantry (Indianapolis)
Matty (She/They), coordinator: "No Questions Asked Food Pantry is just what it sounds like! We provide food and other resources to folks, no questions asked. That means that all of the barriers that often prevent people from accessing food with dignity don't exist at NQAFP. No ID? No problem. Not a citizen? No problem? No bills or forms need to be provided, just show up, and we'll try to meet you needs. We rely entirely on volunteers to do our work, and donations make up the majority of the food we distribute.
Our pantry is open Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 12-2. People can come to the pantry located at 1125 Spruce St inside the Church Within to access services, or they can sign up for deliveries by calling us at (317) 203-9661, or by signing up via the link on our Facebook."
Make a monetary donation here: Venmo - @Amber-Toombs Paypal - am.c.toombs@gmail.com Cashapp - $AmberToombs
Emily Martin- Marketing and Communications Manager, Second Helpings
Second Helpings (Central Indiana)
Emily Martin, Marketing and Communications Manager: "Since 1998, Second Helpings has accepted donated perishable and overstocked food to prepare nutritious meals for thousands of hungry children and adults every day, and distributes them free of charge through local social service agencies in central Indiana. Second Helpings also trains unemployed and underemployed adults for meaningful careers in the culinary industry.
Second Helpings doesn't serve meals directly to individuals, but provides them to more than 100 partner agencies across six counties in central Indiana. People in need of food can use the Indy Hunger Network's Community Compass app (or call Indiana 211) to find food resources near them.
You can find ways to get involved at secondhelpings.org, like donating, hosting a food drive, or volunteering."
Tatjana (far left) at Victory College Prep Academy with their Green Team in their garden. Photo courtesy of Tatjana Rebelle.
Tatjana Rebelle - Resilient Schools Coordinator with Earth Charter Indiana, and grower with Growin' Good in the Hood (Indianapolis)
"The Thriving Schools Challenge grants schools funding and certification for their sustainability projects. We are about to embark on our 3rd year of the program and my second year as the Coordinator. Recently the program has been fully handed over to me. Food access is at the forefront of this via helping schools with building and maintaining gardens. I am also a grower with Kheprw Institute's Growin' Good in the Hood community garden.
The Thriving Schools fall grant application is open until Nov 20, 2020. The Spring Application is open March 1- April 2, 2021.
We are seeking volunteers to help in the summer with gardens, as well as looking to build partnerships with community organizations and businesses looking to help financially."
PS Looking for previous issues? You can find our summer newsletter here, and our September newsletter here.
The COVID-19 crisis has not passed and continues to disproportionately harm Black, Indigenous, and Latinx people and other communities of color. The pandemic has revealed how the communities hardest hit are often the same communities that suffer from high levels of pollution and poor access to healthcare. The fight for environmental justice cannot be separated from the fight for racial justice.
