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.
-
Beef prices continue to rise, but demand remains strong at local butcher shops
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average price of ground beef reached just over $6.30 a pound in August, a record high.
Revamped InsideOut aims to help Hoosier student-athletes beyond sports
A program focused on helping student-athletes succeed beyond the playing field is returning to Indiana through The InsideOut Initiative, a partnership between the Indianapolis Colts & IHSAA Foundation
“The Sports Bra” is coming to Indy, pop-up events already drawing big crowds
Before it even opens, the women-focused bar is building community through Fever watch parties and citywide pop-up events.
Spencer Shrader converts from 45 yards, Colts beat Broncos 29-28
Spencer Shrader made a 45-yard field goal with no time left, and the Indianapolis Colts beat Denver 29-28 on Sunday for their first 2-0 start since 2009.
