Statement on the Impact of a Government Shutdown
Attributed to Emily Weikert Bryant, Executive Director, Feeding Indiana’s Hungry
A government shutdown will bring uncertainty to hundreds of thousands of Hoosier families. The member food banks of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry will do everything possible to serve our communities, but the food and funds on hand can only go so far.
In Indiana, a government shutdown would lead to more than 24,000 federal employees and active-duty military members, as well as many people who work for federal contractors, not receiving their expected paychecks in mid-October. This could jeopardize their ability to put food on the table and cover other household expenses.
As our members face this increase in demand, they are already struggling to meet sustained and heightened need in our state. The end of pandemic-era support services coupled with the compounded effects of continued supply chain disruptions and high food and transportation costs have strained the charitable food system.
A shutdown could also disrupt vital food assistance programs like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) in October, which serves more than 148,000 Hoosier women and children.
And, if a shutdown extends until November, it would jeopardize critical anti-hunger programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps more than 605,000 people in Indiana put food on the table and channels investment into local communities.
Congress must avoid a shutdown to ensure millions of people can continue to access the food they need. We encourage anyone who thinks they might be impacted by a shutdown to find more information at feedingamerica.org/needhelp, by calling 2-1-1 or visiting their website, or accessing the Community Compass app or website.
Feeding Indiana’s Hungry is the statewide association of Feeding America affiliated food banks. Member food banks include:
- Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, Merrillville
- Food Bank of Northern Indiana, South Bend
- Food Finders Food Bank, Inc., Lafayette
- Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana, Ft. Wayne
- Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana, Inc., Muncie
- Terre Haute Catholic Charities Foodbank, Terre Haute
- Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, Indianapolis
- Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Bloomington
- Tri-State Food Bank, Inc., Evansville
- Dare to Care Food Bank, Louisville, KY
- Freestore Foodbank, Cincinnati, OH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 29, 2023
Media contact: Emily Weikert Bryant, ewbryant@feedingindianashungry.org, 317-452-9829
