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Food pantries struggle to meet Thanksgiving demand

By Sophie Kaelble

Posted November 25, 2024

A woman grabs canned cranberry sauce at Pantry 279's Thanksgiving food distribution.

Pantry 279 handed out 2,500 meal kits for Thanksgiving between Nov. 21-23, but Executive Director Cindy Chavez said there wasn’t enough for everyone. (Alaina Davis / WTIU News)

Food banks and pantries in south central Indiana lack enough food to meet everyone’s needs for Thanksgiving, according to local distributors.

Pantry 279 handed out 2,500 meal kits for Thanksgiving between Nov. 21-23, but Executive Director Cindy Chavez said there wasn’t enough for everyone.

“There's a huge list of people that did not make the list for whatever reason,” Chavez said. “Those people will come into the pantry next week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and any extras we have, or any continued donations we get, will go to them.”

Hoosier Hills Food Bank supplies Pantry 279 and more than 100 other regional organizations with food. Executive Director Julio Alonso said food demand skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but government and community support helped Hoosier Hills meet the demand.

Since then, Alonso said, financial support has decreased and government programs have ended, but the demand is still high due to inflation.

“We had all the funding and food that we needed to be able to meet our agency's needs,” Alonso said. “Obviously, that has dropped off significantly.”

Volunteers distribute meal kits for Pantry 279's Thanksgiving food distribution. — Chavez said Pantry 279 feeds 9,500 people per month, compared with about 6,000 per month during the Covid-19 pandemic. (*Alaina Davis / WTIU News*)

Alonso said about 15 percent of Monroe County residents have uncertain or limited food access, and about two-fifths of the food bank’s partner organizations aren’t receiving enough food. Canned food donations help, but Alonso said financial donations are even better.

“We can use those for operations across the board, whether it's to buy food or to put gas in the trucks or for supplies or things like that,” Alonso said.

Chavez seconded that and noted food pantries receive significant discounts when buying groceries. She said her pantry can buy $100 worth of food for $10 with discounts.

Chavez said that people should ask for help if needed. She emphasized that food is more than nutrition and said missing holiday meals with loved ones can worsen mental health.

“You're already stressed out because you can't afford food, that's anxiety, that's depression, and a slew of other possible mental illnesses,” Chavez said. “Now you're going to take away the one thing that brings you joy. That's even worse.”

Pantry 279’s main Thanksgiving food distribution is over, but it has extra items such as ham, lasagna kits and potatoes. The pantry is at 3610 W. State Road 46 and is open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons.