December 19, 2025
Governor Mike Braun
Office of the Governor
200 W Washington St.
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
CC: Lt Gov. Micah Beckwith, Secretary Mitch Roob, Dr. Katie Jenner
Dear Governor Braun,
On May 14, Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap data was released for 2023. Child food insecurity in Indiana rose from 18.2% in 2022 to 18.5% in 2023, an increase in more than 7,000 Hoosier children. More than one in five don’t have the certainty of knowing from where their next meal will come.
About 600,000 Hoosier children received Sun Bucks benefits in summer 2024, providing about $70,000,000 in grocery assistance for families in the summer when school is out and access to summer meal sites can be a struggle, particularly in rural areas. In 2025, Indiana did not participate in Sun Bucks, leaving Hoosier families without access to a federal program for grocery assistance available thirty-seven other states, six territories, and several tribal nations.
According to an analysis carried out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) looking at SNAP benefits, every dollar spent on SNAP generates between $1.50 and $1.80 in local economic activity during an economic downturn. Based on the estimated number of participating children, Indiana could expect an economic impact of between $105M and $126M, spent at the more than 5,000 Hoosier grocery stores, retailers, and farmers markets who accept SNAP benefits.
Most significantly though, by implementing the program we can help ensure that Hoosier children have a hunger-free summer and return to school well-nourished and ready to learn.
We, the undersigned organizations, ask that your administration commit to funding and supporting Sun Bucks for summer 2026 and in perpetuity. This investment in the health, wellbeing, and education of our children is vital to ensure no child goes hungry when school is out, and will make strides toward making Indiana healthy.
Very respectfully,
A Longer Table
American Heart Association
And Campaign Indy Chapter
Area IV Agency on Aging and Community Action Programs, Inc.
AYS, Inc.
Basic Needs, Simple Solutions
Bauer Family Resources (Lafayette)
Bluffton First United Methodist Church
Bread for the World Indiana
Christamore House (Indianapolis)
Church World Service Indianapolis
Citizens Action Coalition of IN
Community Action of Greater Indianapolis, Inc. (CAGI)
Community Action of Southern Indiana
Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast IN
Covering Kids & Families of Indiana
Daly Law
Damien Center
Dare to Care Food Bank
EmployIndy
Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana
Feeding Indiana’s Hungry
Firefly Children & Family Alliance
First Congregational UCC (Indianapolis)
Food Bank of Northern Indiana
Food Bank of Northwest Indiana
Food Finders Food Bank
Freestore Foodbank
Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana
Grace Church (Noblesville)
Greater Indianapolis Multifaith Alliance (GIMA)
Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank
Harrison County Community Services, Inc
HATCH For Hunger
Hoosier Action
Hoosier Hills Food Bank
Indiana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Indiana AFL-CIO
Indiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Indiana Community Action Association, Inc.
Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute
Indiana Dairy Producers
Indiana Family Health Council
Indiana Head Start Association
Indiana Justice Project
Indiana NETWORK Advocates Team
Indiana Retail Council
Indiana School Counselor Association
Indiana School Health Network
Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church
Indiana United Ways
Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council
Indianapolis Urban League
Indy Hunger Network
La Plaza, Inc.
Martin’s Cloak Food Pantry (Bristow)
MCCOY (Marion County Commission on Youth)
Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana
MenuLogic K12
Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard (Bloomington)
NASW Indiana Chapter
No Kid Hungry
North Dearborn Pantry
North Star Nutrition Counseling, LLC
Northside Church of Christ (Indianapolis)
NWI Food Council
Pack Away Hunger
Pleasant View Lutheran Church, ELCA (Indianapolis)
Prosperity Indiana
Proteus, Inc.
Public Health Connect
Purpose of Life Ministries (Indianapolis)
Real Recovery Inc (Washington)
RESULTS
Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana
Second Helpings
Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, IN
South Central Community Action Program
St. Joseph Community Health Foundation (Ft. Wayne)
St. Vincent de Paul Indianapolis
Stand for Children Indiana
Terre Haute Catholic Charities Foodbank
The Arc of Indiana
The Breakaway Corp (New Albany)
Tri-State Food Bank
United Way of Central Indiana
United Women in Faith
Warrick Resource Center
Washington County Food Bank
Western Indiana Community Action Agency, Inc.
Yorktown Farm & Artisan Market / Grow Market Inc
