As 2023 nears its end, Gleaners is seeing a spike in need across its 21-county service area. The uptick started in the summer, and Gleaners has seen the trend continue into the holiday season.
“In our fiscal year 2023, ending in September, Gleaners distributed an all-time record 48 million meals throughout our 21-county service area, 17% higher than the last year and 88% higher than the year before the pandemic,” said Gleaners President & CEO Fred Glass. “Since June, the number of households we’re serving just at our own on-site pantry has increased by nearly 28%.”
Households served at Gleaners drive-thru pantry:
July 2023:Â 13,045
August 2023:Â 17,633
September 2023:Â 17,257
October 2023:Â 17,080
November 2023: 20,685
Food banks throughout Gleaners’ service area are seeing similar increases in numbers. “Marion County, our most populous, is up 11%, but so is Hamilton County. Wayne County is up 16%, Bartholomew County is up 13%. It’s across the board,” Glass said.
Despite indicators showing a strong economy, hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers are struggling. Rent increases place Indianapolis as high as third nationally. While food inflation has slowed, it is still outpacing wage gains for low-income workers.
Because Gleaners purchases nearly half the food it distributes, we feel firsthand the impact of the rising cost of food. Gleaners’ food purchase budget of $7.7 million, the highest in the organization’s 43-year history, is already being stretched. “Despite having conservatively planned this year for a significant increase in our food budget, our recent distributions are running well over that increased budget. My big concern is that even this record budget may not be enough,” Glass said.
To make a donation and join Gleaners in the fight against hunger, click here. Through Dec. 31, 2023, the OrthoIndy Foundation will match all donations.