Indiana State Funding Initiative to Combat Food Insecurity and Advance Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) has announced the distribution of $2 million in state funding to eleven food banks across Indiana. This initiative, funded by the Indiana General Assembly’s biennial budget, is a direct response to escalating food insecurity within the state. The allocation aims to support local communities and significantly contributes to the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to poverty, hunger, and collaborative partnerships.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This funding initiative is a targeted effort that aligns with the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The primary contributions are:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The core objective of the funding is to provide essential resources to food banks, which are on the front lines of fighting hunger. By enabling the purchase and distribution of additional food, the initiative directly addresses food insecurity, which affected nearly 1,034,000 Indiana residents in 2023, including one in five children.
• SDG 1: No Poverty: The methodology for fund distribution is based on The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) formula, which explicitly uses county-level poverty and unemployment data. This ensures that resources are channeled to areas where the need is greatest, tackling a key symptom and contributor to the cycle of poverty.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: By providing a crucial safety net, the funding helps to mitigate the inequalities faced by vulnerable populations. It ensures that families facing economic hardship, rising expenses, and reduced access to federal nutrition programs have a reliable source for meals, thereby reducing disparities in food access.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The program exemplifies a robust multi-stakeholder partnership. It involves collaboration between state government bodies (Indiana General Assembly, ISDA, Governor’s Office) and civil society organizations (Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, and the eleven recipient food banks), demonstrating an effective model for public-private cooperation to achieve common goals.

Funding Allocation and Distribution for Fiscal Year 2026

Distribution Methodology

The $2 million appropriation was allocated based on TEFAP fair share percentages, a formula designed to ensure equitable distribution based on demonstrated need, specifically poverty and unemployment rates in each county served by the food banks.

Recipient Food Banks and Allotted Funds

The following eleven food banks, which serve as hubs for hundreds of local pantries and soup kitchens, received funding:

• Community Harvest Food Bank: $202,400.00
• Dare to Care Food Bank: $76,800.00
• Food Bank of Northern Indiana: $232,200.00
• Food Bank of Northwest Indiana: $199,400.00
• Food Finders Food Bank, Inc.: $195,200.00
• Freestore Foodbank: $17,800.00
• Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, Inc.: $635,000.00
• Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Inc.: $80,000.00
• Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central IN, Inc.: $153,600.00
• Terre Haute Catholic Charities Foodbank, Inc.: $89,200.00
• Tri-State Food Bank, Inc.: $118,400.00

Stakeholder Commentary and Impact Assessment

State officials and community leaders have underscored the critical importance of this funding in addressing the state’s hunger crisis.

1. Government Perspective: Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, who also serves as Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, emphasized the widespread nature of food insecurity and expressed gratitude for the ability to provide direct financial support to Hoosier families. ISDA Director Don Lamb highlighted the vital connection between Indiana’s productive agricultural sector and the distribution capabilities of food banks, praising their collective work in serving communities.
2. Non-Profit Sector Perspective: Emily Bryant, Executive Director of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, noted that member food banks continue to serve record numbers of families who face difficult choices between paying bills and buying food. John C. Etling, Agency Director of Catholic Charities Terre Haute, pointed to a sharp rise in food insecurity, especially among children, and described local food banks as the “last line of defense” for many families amid declining federal support and rising food costs. Both leaders expressed profound gratitude for the state’s investment, which strengthens their capacity to meet the growing need.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  The article’s central theme is the fight against hunger and food insecurity in Indiana. It details a $2 million funding initiative by the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) to support food banks. The text explicitly mentions that the goal is to “help feed Hoosiers in need” and quotes statistics on food insecurity, such as “nearly 1,034,000 Hoosiers, including 1 in 5 children, experienced food insecurity in 2023.” This directly aligns with the core mission of SDG 2.

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  The article establishes a clear link between poverty and food insecurity. The method for distributing the funds is based on The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) percentages, which “captures poverty and unemployment levels in each county.” This shows that the initiative is targeted at vulnerable populations affected by poverty, addressing a key dimension of SDG 1.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The initiative described is a multi-stakeholder partnership. It involves a government body (Indiana State Department of Agriculture, Indiana General Assembly), a non-profit network (Feeding Indiana’s Hungry), and local civil society organizations (the 11 food banks). The article highlights this collaboration, quoting gratitude for the “support of the Indiana General Assembly… and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.” This cooperation is essential for achieving the other goals and is the focus of SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 2.1: End hunger and ensure access to food

   The article directly addresses this target: “By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and the vulnerable, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.” The entire program of funding food banks is designed to provide food to vulnerable populations, including families and children (“1 in 5 children are unsure of their next meal”), thereby increasing their access to food.

2. Target 1.2: Reduce poverty in all its dimensions

   This target aims to “reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty.” While the article doesn’t measure poverty reduction, it describes an intervention aimed at alleviating one of its most severe consequences: hunger. By using “poverty and unemployment levels” to allocate funds, the program specifically targets those living in poverty, contributing to this goal.

3. Target 17.17: Encourage effective partnerships

   This target is to “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.” The article is a case study of such a partnership. The state government provides the funding ($2 million), which is distributed through the ISDA to a network of non-profit food banks (civil society) that serve communities across Indiana. The mention of farmers’ roles in growing food also alludes to a public-private-civil society link.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 2.1.2: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population

  The article provides precise data for this indicator. It states, “nearly 1,034,000 Hoosiers, including 1 in 5 children, experienced food insecurity in 2023.” This statistic is a direct measure of the problem the initiative seeks to address and can be used as a baseline to track progress.

• Indicator 1.2.2: Proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty

  This indicator is implied. The article states that the fund distribution formula “captures poverty and unemployment levels in each county.” This implies that data on poverty rates is being used to guide the intervention, even though the specific poverty rate is not mentioned in the text. The success of the program is inherently tied to reaching these populations.

• Indicator 17.17.1: Amount of United States dollars committed to public-private and civil society partnerships

  The article explicitly quantifies the financial commitment to this partnership. It states that “Nearly a dozen Indiana food banks will receive a combined total of $2 million.” This figure serves as a direct measure for this indicator, showing the financial scale of the collaboration.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: hoosieragtoday.com