|
|
A small building across the street from my Iowa childhood home housed apartments, reserved especially for seniors. One of the occupants was a widowed,
retired teacher, Mrs. Dominy. For perspective, Mrs. Dominy had retired long before I was even in school, but she and my mom knew each other from the neighborhood and from our parish. From time to time, Mom made extra of anything she was baking, and she'd dispatch one of us kids to deliver the cookies or brownies or bread she'd baked.
The local Meals on Wheels visited the building regularly, and as a kid, I'm not sure I gave that much thought.
One night just before Thanksgiving, an especially nasty blizzard blew in, and everything stopped. The whiteouts were wicked enough that at times, we couldn't see Mrs. Dominy's building from our house. The next morning, as we were setting the table for our Thanksgiving, mom made sure we set an extra space for our neighbor. My mom would never have imagined she was doing anything but the right thing. But teaching her kids to take care of their neighbors was one of a million life lessons Mom, and Dad, provided.
I can't help but think about that when I read about the hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers who may soon become food insecure. While I can't bake like my mom, I can pick up some extra groceries this weekend and make sure they get to where they can do some good. If you're looking to get involved, a great resource, www.findhelp.org, can identify organizations in your area that may welcome assistance.
Let us know about any unique outreach or challenge that's happening in your area.
And thanks for reading.
|
|
|
Lisa Renze
Free Press Indiana Director of Strategic Partnerships
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hoosier families brace for SNAP cuts |
As the government shutdown enters its fourth week, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, which distributes SNAP benefits, won't be authorized to distribute federal benefits in November unless funding for the program is restored. An estimated 600,000 Hoosiers — nearly half of whom are children — rely on that monthly nutrition assistance. The looming deadline means food shelters and other providers are prepping for the likely boom in demand. Read more from The Indiana Capital Chronicle and these other outlets:
WRTV6
The Decatur Democrat
The South Bend Tribune
The Star City News
|
| Read the story →
|
|
|
Helping Hoosiers fight addiction |
For the past decade, community leaders across Indiana have utilized a state law that allows experts and advocates alike to help Hoosiers fighting addiction. Some of the tools healthcare experts utilize include syringe exchange programs and distribution of an overdose reversal medication called Naloxone, better known as Narcan. Now, the Evansville Courier & Press reports advocates want to create a program for their community, as part of harm reduction efforts there.
|
| Read the story →
|
|
|
Gary church makes history |
Members of Lake County's historic,
117-year-old First Baptist Church welcomed their first female pastor with the recent installation of Nicole Guns. Capital B Gary reports that Guns is just one of the fewer than 1% of Black women who hold senior pastor roles in churches.
|
| Read the story →
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Musical students may find room to run |
Students at Mississinewa High School in Gas City learned earlier this month that their planned production of the musical adaptation of Jodi Picoult's book, "Between the Lines," was canceled. School officials halted the production after a parent complained about a non-binary character in the story. Now Marion Community Schools leaders are offering up one of that district's theaters for the production. Fox59 has more on this story.
|
|
|
|
|
More great reads |
Only Lake and Porter counties in Indiana require vehicle emissions testing. Indiana lawmakers are exploring ways to end emissions testing in these counties, but doing so without cutting pollution could risk federal highway funding. WFYI explains.
As election seasons go, this one is largely quiet across Indiana. But six school districts are asking their local voters for support via property tax initiatives that will do everything from retain teachers, to fund transportation, to construct new buildings. Chalkbeat Indiana has the story.
Gov. Mike Braun has officially called a special session for Indiana lawmakers, setting redistricting efforts in motion. The Indiana Capital Chronicle has the story.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Support our work |
Like what you've read? You can help us do even more.
|
| Donate today
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| \n\n\n\n
|
|
|
