Hunger risk strikes Indiana

The U.S Department of Agriculture released data Wednesday revealing Indiana is the 12th state in the nation most at risk for hunger.

The data, which is calculated by a three-year average, showed 49 million people in the United States are food insecure, including 13.5 percent of Indiana households, according to a press release from Feeding Indiana’s Hungry.

“Over 6 percent of Hoosier households are having to go without food,” said Emily Weikert Bryant, executive director of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry.

Bryant said food insecure households skipping meals  have gone up from 4.8 percent to 6.3 percent.

The month of September is recognized by Feeding America as Hunger Action Month.

Bryant said Hunger Action Month is designed to advocate for those who are at risk of hunger.

“We want to engage people and make them aware of the fact that hunger exists and of opportunities to help, as well as make them aware of what our food banks do across the state,” Bryant said.

Throughout the month of September, Bryant said their member food banks have several events going on to help raise awareness including walks, runs, food drives, a civic food fight and volunteer days, among other things.

“I think overall, with hunger action month and other efforts throughout our state and country, the problem with hunger has become more visible and more discussed, and this is one more way we try and make that happen,” Bryant said.

Bryant said the issue of hunger pertains to IU students because there will always be students among them who will have difficulty getting enough food for themselves or their families.

“Things are difficult for college students,” Bryant said. “There could be someone in your class, someone down the street or someone your parents know that are at risk of hunger.”

Julio Alonso, executive director of Hoosier Hills Food Bank, said Hunger Action month is a part of what people at Hoosier Hills do every day because hunger is an ongoing problem.

“We usually use September as a way to try and start engaging the student body at IU because that’s when a lot of students are coming back to IU and when a lot of freshman are coming here for the first time,” Alonso said.

Alonso said they rely on more than 3,000 volunteers a year, so they use this
month to try and raise awareness on campus as well as recruit volunteers.
“It is impossible to do what we do without volunteer support,” Alonso said.

Follow reporter Alli Friedman on Twitter @afreedz.