What Food Insecurity Looks Like in Southern Indiana
I can honestly say that I’ve never experienced food insecurity in my life. My parents always provided for my brother and me, and I know how lucky that makes me. Things got a little tricky during my college years, though. I was working a part-time job, paying rent, and covering bills on my own. I remember “grocery shopping” at a discount dollar store across from Eastland Mall, grabbing shelf-stable foods for under a dollar and keeping my food budget under twenty bucks a week. I worked in food service and we were afforded free meals during our shifts so even though I had to be creative, I made it work.
I always knew my parents would help if I needed it, but I tried to “adult” as much as I could. When I met my husband, things got easier. I didn’t have to stretch $20 a week for groceries anymore, and I could actually buy steak once in a while.
But I know that’s not the case for everyone. Many Americans struggle with food insecurity, even those working full-time jobs. Bills come first, and with the high energy costs we’ve seen across Southern Indiana, it’s easy to feel buried. Now, the government shutdown has made things even harder by halting SNAP benefits for thousands of households.
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How Many Indiana Families Rely on SNAP
According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, in 2024, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helped about 610,700 Indiana residents, roughly 9% of the state’s population. Nationwide, SNAP supports 41.7 million people, or about 12% of Americans…