Food is not a privilege. It’s a basic human right.

Yet on Nov. 1, due to the federal government shutdown, some 600,000 Hoosiers who rely on SNAP won’t receive their benefits. That includes nearly 150,000 people in Central Indiana – Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan and Putnam counties.

Hard-working families already struggling to afford child care, health care and other essentials now have even less money for groceries, facing impossible choices about which basic needs to meet.

In response, community funders have launched a $1 million Central Indiana Food Relief Fund to support Gleaners, Midwest Food Bank of Indiana, and Second Helpings. Beginning the week of Nov. 3, 100% of donations will go directly to these organizations. The fund was launched with a $500,000 anonymous donation, quickly matched by the Indianapolis Foundation, Lilly Endowment Inc., and the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation.

While philanthropy alone cannot fill the gap left by cuts to federal SNAP benefits, we are calling on the community to help neighbors in need: Donate. Advocate. Educate. Volunteer.