News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Local & Bistate

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable as well as posts that are attacking other users. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
comments powered by Disqus
February 20, 2013

Indiana food banks want more money from state legislature

Howard Greninger The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — A group of 11 statewide food banks are urging the public to ask lawmakers to increase funding for the hungry in the state’s proposed biennial budget.

The food banks compose FIsH — Feeding Indiana’s Hungry — which served nearly 700,000 Hoosiers in 2010. There are more than 1 million Hoosiers at risk of hunger. Indiana has about 1.9 million citizens who fall into a category of 185 percent of the federal poverty level.

Emily Bryant, executive director of FIsH, said the group of food banks first sought state support in 2009. The Indiana General Assembly budgeted $300,000 each year in 2010 and 2011; however, the state Office of Management and Budget, which includes the State Budget Agency, did not approve distribution of the funds.

Last year, FIsH was approved for and obtained $291,000, and is expected to receive that amount this year, Bryant said. That funding allowed FIsH to purchase just over a half a million pounds of food, which accounted for less than 1 percent of the total amount of food distributed from the food banks, Bryant said.

FIsH is now working to obtain $3 million to $5 million in state funding.

“We are working very hard to make a case that we are good stewards of the funding,” Bryant said. “Our food banks have more than half a million square feet of warehouse space and a fleet of more than 80 vehicles that [would let us] purchase more product and move more product.

“We know there are a number of people who we are not meeting and the need has not decreased. The $3 million to $5 million that we are asking for is in line with what other state associations have received from their legislatures and governors,” Bryant said.

The Ohio Association of Foodbanks received $12.5 million from that state last year, Bryant said. That money helps support the Ohio Food Program and Agricultural Clearance Program.

This year also marks the first concerted effort by FIsH for a budget increase.

Catholic Charities of Terre Haute, a member of FIsH, send out an email Monday asking people to contact three Wabash Valley members of the budget-writing Indiana House Ways and Means Committee. They are Rep. Clyde Kersey, D-Terre Haute, Rep. Jim Baird, R-Greencastle, and Rep. Matt Ubelhor, R-Bloomfield.

Telephone messages were left for Kersey and Baird, who could not be reached by 5 p.m. Tuesday, as the Ways and Means Committee continued to meet.

A food drive is underway in the Statehouse this entire month. A public service announcement was created and posted on the Internet by four leaders of the General Assembly — House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis; Senate President Pro Tempore David Long, R-Fort Wayne; House Minority Leader Scott Pelath, D-Michigan City; and Senate Minority Leader Tim Lanane, D-Anderson.

The PSA asks for public donations to food banks; however, it does not directly address state funding.

A second reading of the budget in the House is scheduled for Thursday, with the House expected to pass its budget version on Monday. The budget then goes to the Senate, which also adopts a budget. Unresolved differences go to the House/Senate Conference Committee to reconcile differences.

John Etling, executive director of Catholic Charities and treasurer of FIsH, said increased state funding would allow FIsH members to increase the purchase of food grown or manufactured in Indiana. FIsH could purchase an additional 20 million pounds of food.

“It could be melons from farms in Vincennes, or dairy farms statewide that produce milk. There are a lot of pork and cattle producers in Indiana, poultry producers, there are turkey farmers and even sweet corn,” Etling said.

“We are asking the state to be a bigger partner in reducing hunger amongst the population, particularly the poor,” Etling said. “One in six Hoosiers and one in four children are food insecure,” Etling said.

“Food insecurity is the ability to access nutritional requirements on a daily basis in a socially acceptable manner. Dumpster diving and shoplifting are not socially acceptable,” Etling said.



Reporter Howard Greninger can be reached at 812-231-4204 or howard.greninger@

tribstar.com.



 

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local & Bistate
Latest News
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
AP Video
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma Raw: Widespread Destruction in Moore, Okla. Raw: Aerials Show Path of Oklahoma Destruction Raw: Rescue Workers Search Oklahoma School Active Search for Utah Missing Mom Ends Raw: Aftermath of Massive Tornado in Oklahoma Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul Huge Tornado Kills Dozens Near Oklahoma City Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado Voters Could Elect LA's First Female Mayor Raw: Aussie Zoo Shows Off White Rhino Calf Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims Raw: Rescuers Pull Tornado Survivors to Safety AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado OKC Hospital Describes Treating Tornado Wounded Horse Saved From Slaughter, Goes on to Win Big MLB Hoping for Large Replay Expansion in 2014 Moore, Okla. City of Reunions, Tears After Storm
NDN Video
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal Olivia Munn Flaunts Her Bikini Bod Britney Spears Under Fire Once Again For Being A Bad Mom The Hangover Baby All Grown Up Arias Tells Jury What She'd Do if She Gets Life The all-new Xbox One RAW: Massive tornado strikes Oklahoma Nidal Hasan paid $278K while awaiting trial VIDEO: Teacher reunites mother and son after tornado levels elementary school in Oklahoma City Okla. tornado survivor finds dog buried alive under rubble Jennifer Lawrence Gets Naked and Painted Blue as X-Men's Mystique Pickler's Dance Moves Cause A Stir Obama to tornado survivors: The country stands beside you Reporter Cries Over Devastation Sneak Peek: 'Modern Family' Says Good Bye Trailer: 'The Last Stand' Available on Blu-ray Disc, DVD, Digital Download IWitness Look at Moore, OK Tornado RAW: Moore, OK tornado touches down near school Robert Pattinson Moves Out RAW: Russian dash cam catches car 20 feet in the air
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

     

    March 12, 2010

activity
Real Estate News