Tools & Resources

From 2010 to 2013, the meal supply in Marion County grew by 30 million meals per year. IHN’s goal had been to assure there was enough food for all, but no suitable metric for the remaining meal gap could be found. So in 2014, with help from IUPUI and USDA, a first-of-its-kind survey of unmet need for food assistance was designed and executed.

In partnership with SNAPscreener.com, Indy Hunger Network has a free calculator available to quickly and anonymously determine if someone is likely to be eligible for SNAP, WIC, or other federal nutrition programs. Once the form has been completed, the user will immediately see how much money in benefits they are likely to receive each month if they apply.

With input from food pantry leaders and our partner organizations, Indy Hunger Network compiled the Manual of Best Practices for Food Pantries. This document outlines strategies pantries can adopt to increase their effectiveness. The manual begins with a Self-Assessment, and includes ideas for connecting with local organizations.

The Federal Nutrition Programs Toolkit is a document that is designed to help people find information and resources on what programs are available through the federal government and administered by the state of Indiana. The project serves as a partnership between Indy Hunger Network and state agencies including the Indiana Department of Health, the Indiana Department of Education, and Family and Social Services Administration, with input from partner organization Feeding Indiana’s Hungry.

In the Toolkit below, you can find information about a variety of the most widely used food programs in Indiana, including SNAP, WIC, TANF, and more. If you are interested in obtaining a physical copy of the Toolkit, contact us for more details.

Indy Hunger Network collaborated with the Indiana Family and Social Service Administration (FSSA) and the Indiana Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to create video series highlighting the benefits of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the WIC program. SNAP provides nutrition benefits to supplement food budgets for households facing food insecurity, while WIC supports the health of low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding parents, infants, and children up to age 5 by providing nutritious foods, healthy eating information, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health care. Many eligible families are unaware they qualify for these programs. Using testimonials, the videos educate viewers and encourage them to explore their eligibility for additional assistance.