Indianapolis urban farm forced to stop supplying free produce to food pantries due to USDA cuts
With seeds already in soil, Beckman says, she reached out to Indiana leaders for help and is waiting for clarity on how to move forward.
By Kyla Russell
WishTV
Mar 14, 2025
Excerpt:
Beckman says 135,000 people in Indianapolis do not know where their next meal will come from. To combat rising food insecurity, Helpings of Hope was created. The nonprofit is known for its sprawling community garden. Two years ago, they founded a volunteer-run urban farm focused on growing hard-to-find international produce for the diverse surrounding community.
“We are trying to make sure they have what they used to have in their home country,” farm manager Nate Dungi said.
For two years, the farm has been included in a program created during the pandemic called the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement. LFPA allows local food pantries to buy locally grown and fresh produce from the farm and then offer it to those in need for free.
According to federal data, Indiana received nearly $13 million through the program. LFPA and programs like it allow Helpings of Hope to provide for the community.
Beckman said, “This funding cut, which is really vital for people, but this funding cut is just going to exacerbate the situation.”
With seeds already in soil, Beckman says, she reached out to Indiana leaders for help and is waiting for clarity on how to move forward. “There may be some funds leftover that maybe can be used for this year, we’re hoping, but we’re also being prepared for the worst.”
Source: https://cityfarmer.info/indianapolis-urban-farm-forced-to-stop-supplying-free-produce-to-food-pantries-due-to-usda-cuts/
