Indiana residents step up to help food pantries as SNAP benefits set to expire

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Food assistance programs in Indiana are scrambling to prepare as thousands of Hoosiers are likely to lose SNAP benefits.

As the government shutdown continues with no end in sight, southern Indiana leaders are trying to figure out how to make sure people who depend on government assistance stay fed. Many people will turn to food pantries like the Center for Lay Ministries in southern Indiana.

The shelves at the center at 213 E. Maple Street in downtown Jeffersonville are not yet bare -- thanks to the generosity of community members like Michael Olson, who brought 800 pounds of food to the center on Oct. 30.

It was typical for Olson, who donates $1,000 worth of groceries every month. Leaders at the pantry say the outreach from Olson and other community members is inspiring.

"I grew up down in New Albany on Oak Street," Olson said, "and we didn't have a lot. And I had a successful career in the military, and now I have a little extra money, and I like to donate it.

"There's just a huge need," he continued. "If people would just come over here for a couple hours and watch the people that show up here to get food, you can see the need. Your money is going to a good place."

Michael Olson at Center for Lay Ministries in Jeffersonville, Indiana — Pictured: Michael Olson, who regularly donates hundreds of pounds of food to the Center for Lay Ministries in downtown Jeffersonville, Ind., says he grew up in New Albany without a lot of resources, and now he tries to give back what he can. (WDRB image)

Olson isn't the only one giving back -- on Thursday a long line of people were waiting to donate food.

"There's going to be people and children that aren't going to have enough to eat. The longer this goes on, and if somebody doesn't get the government back in operation, there's going to be more and more need," says donor Peg Gernand.

On Wednesday, Indiana state leaders held a budget committee meeting where leaders urged Gov. Mike Braun or the State Board of Finance to allocate $112 million to cover SNAP benefits in November for all recipients while the government is shut down. That motion was voted down 3-2.

Now individuals -- and local government entities -- are doing what they can to help.

In Charlestown, Mayor Treva Hodges said the city is having a food drive on Saturday, but she said the city can only do so much at the local level.

"Unfortunately, the city itself doesn't have a fund or the allowance that would allow us to spend taxpayer dollars on that kind of a program," Hodges said.

As the Nov. 1 deadline for benefits to expire approaches, people we spoke to said they're giving what they can.

"The idea of kids being hungry or adults being hungry -- I don't like that. I just don't."

CLICK HERE for a list of places in Indiana and Kentucky to donate or receive food assistance.

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