INDIANAPOLIS — A couple cartons of milk.
That was all that was left on the shelves of a community refrigerator on Indy’s far east side Saturday morning.
“We stock the refrigerators Monday and Thursday. It will be stocked full and the refrigerator will be empty in less than an hour," DeAndrea Rayner said.
One in nine Hoosiers are currently facing hunger. Rayner works every day to lower that number.
Rayner launched Indy Community Pantry, a no-contact and take-what-you-need free food pantry system, in 2020.
“Food should not be something that anybody should go without. You even see people that have money or jobs that utilize the fridge because the cost of food has gone up so much," Rayner said.
She says the pandemic opened her eyes to how grave the situation was in her neighborhood.
“Nobody really knew about it. There were a lot of people that weren't feeding the homeless because they didn’t know," Rayner said.
Right now, she has eight dry food pantries and three fridge locations across the Indianapolis metropolitan area.
Rayner says she currently relies on donations to get by.
“When I fill the fridges, it’s a line. (When I) see those people's faces when they're receiving food and know that they don't have to ask where their next meal is coming from, or their kids don't have to ask where their next meal is coming from. They know they can use one of my refrigerators," Rayner said.
Items can range from a carton of eggs to a pack of steaks.
It costs Rayner $400 every time she restocks, and the costs are starting to add up.
“We need help keeping the refrigerators stocked," Rayner said.
Indy Community Pantry takes monetary and food donations.
For more information, visit their Facebook or Instagram page.
-
IU Health program helps new mothers as Indiana ranks low in prenatal care
WeCare is a needs-based program that is giving new mothers free in-person visits with a coach to watch their health and the baby's.
Drop off locations now open for Operation Christmas Child
Children in need are being blessed this Christmas season through the Samaritan’s Purse project, Operation Christmas Child.
After Biden policy shift, Russia says Ukraine fired 6 US-made missiles
Days after President Biden eased restrictions on Ukrainian use of American-made weapons, Russia said it was struck by six U.S.-made missiles.
Republican proposes restroom ban as first openly transgender member joins House
Republican Rep. Nancy Mace is proposing banning transgender women from using the women's restroom as Rep. Sarah McBride becomes the House's first openly transgender member.
