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Indianapolis expands food distributions after SNAP pause, city urges volunteers
Summary
City officials said a nationwide pause in SNAP benefits has widened a food-assistance gap; the City of Indianapolis and partners are raising funds and expanding distribution events, with OPHS staff and volunteers handing out free meals and the Indy Hunger Network’s Community Compass app helping residents find pantries.
The City of Indianapolis is expanding food-distribution events and fundraising after a nationwide pause in SNAP benefits, Mayor's Neighborhood Advocate Dara Marquez said in the Tuesday '10 broadcast.
Marquez said the pause has created a gap in assistance affecting more than 120,000 residents in the broader area and that the city convened philanthropic and corporate partners to raise money and expand local food-distribution events.
“At each event, OPHS employees and volunteers will be handing out free food to any Indianapolis resident who needs it,” Marquez said. She urged residents to use the Community Compass app from the Indy Hunger Network to find nearby pantries and to consider donating or volunteering with groups such as Second Helpings.
The city is posting schedules and locations for December distribution events on its website and partners’ pages; organizers are also using digital tools to let people search for food-resources by neighborhood. Marquez encouraged residents who are willing and able to sign up to help at events or make donations to local food banks.
The announcements come as part of a broader, short-term response while city officials and community partners work to mitigate the immediate gap in benefits.
