Sep 17, 2026 Mayor’s Advisory Commission on Food Access 9-17-26

[1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER]

[00:00:05]

>> ALL RIGHT. WELCOME.

GOOD MORNING. THIS IS -- WELL, I'M CALLING TO ORDER THE MARY'S ADVISORY COMMISSION ON FOOD ACCESS.

IT LOOKS HIKE WE HAVE A QUORUM, SO THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR ONCE AGAIN GETTING UP AND JOINING US. THIS IS SEPTEMBER.

I BELIEVE WE'VE HAD -- I SHOULD HAVE COUNTED, BUT HAVE WE HAD SIX MEETINGS? DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT? FIVE. OKAY.

WELL, I'M A LITTLE BIT AHEAD OF MYSELF.

SO THANK YOU. BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR PROGRAM THIS MORNING, I JUST WANT TO LET THE COMMITTEE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO START THINKING AND TALKING ABOUT A FINAL REPORT.

I KNOW CINDY IS KEEPING GREAT NOTES AND MAKING COMMENTS.

FOR THE NEXT MEETING IN OCTOBER, WE WILL HAVE A SPECIAL PRESENTATION THAT HAS BEEN SET UP FOR US.

I DON'T KNOW. IF YOU WANT TO SAY ANYTHING? YEAH, RIGHT, SORRY. YOU'RE IN DIFFERENT CHAIRS THIS TIME. YOU SWITCHED ON ME.

OKAY. IF YOU WANT TO JUST QUICKLY GIVE THE COMMISSION JUST A QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO OCTOBER AND REMIND US OF THAT DATE.

>> OF COURSE. SO, AARON GOLDSTEIN, WHO'S THE SENIOR MANAGER FOR GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS WITH THE ORGANIZATION SHARE OUR STRENGTH, WHO IS PART OF THE GRANT APPLICATION THAT WE JUST APPLIED TO, IS GOING TO BE PRESENT TO PRESENT TO US AT OUR MEETING, WHICH IS WHY WE NEEDED TO SHIFT THE WEEKS TO ACCOMMODATE HIS SCHEDULE. SO HE ACTUALLY JUST REACHED OUT YESTERDAY TO ASK ME HOW MUCH TIME HE WOULD HAVE TO PRESENT TO US, AND I TOLD HIM MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THE FLOOR WAS HIT, AFTER WE BEGIN THE MEETING. SO HE'S PLANNING TO SPEAK WITH

US ABOUT CHILDHOOD HUNGER. >> GREAT, AND THAT DATE IS...?

>> OCTOBER 1ST. >> GREAT.

SO THE OCTOBER MEETING WILL BE OCTOBER 1ST.

SO THERE WILL NOT BE THEN ONE THAT MONTH ON THE THIRD THURSDAY, AND THANK YOU, AMANDA, FOR SETTING ALL OF THAT UP.

THANK YOU FOR LEADING THE CHARGE ON APPLYING FOR THE GRANT, ET CETERA. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE -- I ALSO HAVE ONE MORE ORGANIZATION THAT WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT, AND SO I THOUGHT MAYBE I MIGHT WORK THAT INTO THE OCTOBER MEETING, BUT WE COULD GO INTO NOVEMBER ALSO.

IF EVERYBODY HAS LOOKED INTO THEIR CALENDARS FOR THAT THIRD THURSDAY... I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S -- HOPEFULLY THAT'S NOT THANKSGIVING, BUT IT'S GETTING DARN CLOSE. IS THAT THANKSGIVING? ANYBODY LOOKIN'? OKAY.

SO WILL WE -- DO YOU WANT TO HAVE A MEETING? THAT'S MY NEXT QUESTION: DO YOU WANT TO HAVE A MEETING THAT THIRD THURSDAY OF NOVEMBER, AND IF SO, I CAN MOVE THAT OTHER ORGANIZATION TO THE THIRD THURSDAY, BUT I THINK, AND MY GOAL, AND I'M OPEN TO FEEDBACK, THAT WE WOULD WANT TO TRY AND HAVE DECEMBER BE OUR GOAL FOR WRAPPING UP OUR REPORT AND GETTING SOMETHING OUT TO THE PUBLIC AS FAR AS CONNECTION AND ACCESS, IDENTIFYING ANY GAPS, ET CETERA.

CINDY, DO YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON THAT?

>> JUST A QUICK QUESTION. SO, ON OUR AGENDA, IT SAYS THAT EACH MEMBER IS APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR AND EACH MEMBER'S TERM EXPIRES DECEMBER 31ST, 2027. SO WHAT IS THE PLAN, THEN, AFTER

THE FINAL REPORT? >> BASED ON -- YOU KNOW, THIS IS ALL NEW, AND THERE REALLY TECHNICALLY IS NO PLAN, WHICH IS THE BEAUTY OF IT. WE ARE GOING TO SERVE, AS NEEDED. WE'RE SERVING TO NOT JUST -- NOT JUST TO HOLD MEETINGS, BUT TO TRY AND GET TO AN END RESULT, AND THEN, ONGOING, WE WOULD THEN SERVE A FUNCTION OF BEING A CONNECTION TO THE ORGANIZATIONS, NEW ORGANIZATION, AND WE MAY CHANGE OUR CADENCE ON MEETINGS, SO THAT'S UP TO US TO DECIDE, AND WE REALLY PROBABLY HAVE TO START TALKING ABOUT THAT AND THINKING ABOUT IT. SO -- AND WE COULD USE, CERTAINLY, THE REST OF OUR NOVEMBER MEETING FOR THAT KIND OF A DISCUSSION. WE CAN HAVE ANOTHER MEETING TO DISCUSS THE REPORT. OBVIOUSLY I DON'T WANT THIS TO FALL ALL ON THE SHOULDER OF CINDY.

WE'VE GOT TO ALL CONTRIBUTE. BUT -- SO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE -- I MEAN, I'LL JUST THROW OUT THERE THAT, MAYBE FOR THE OCTOBER MEETING IS GOING TO BE FULL, IT LOOKS LIKE.

SO FOR THE NOVEMBER MEETING, MAYBE WE WORK ON LOOKING AT A DOCUMENT THAT CINDY MIGHT PREPARE THAT'S JUST A SUMMARY OF OUR SIX MEETINGS OR SEVEN MEETINGS, BY THAT TIME.

DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE? YEAH.

YES, SIR? >> CINDY'S DONE A MARVELOUS JOB ON THE ONE DOCUMENT, MULTIPLE PAGES OF WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED SO FAR IN TERMS OF GAINING INFORMATION.

[00:05:04]

>> I THINK THAT'S A GREAT IDEA. EVERYBODY AGREE WITH THAT? ALL RIGHT. EXCELLENT.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS, OR DOES THAT TO MOVE FORWARD? OKAY. SO -- AND FEEL FREE.

WE CAN COMMUNICATE ON EMAIL ANY CHANGES, ANY CERTAIN DESIRES OR ANY GAPS. AND IF THERE IS ANOTHER ORGANIZATION THAT YOU KNOW OF THAT WE SHOULD BE TALKING TO, THAT -- THAT PART IS OUR JOB. WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BECOME AS EDUCATED ABOUT EVERY ORGANIZATION IN OUR WORLD THAT WE CAN. SO, IF WE'VE MISSED ANYBODY, PLEASE SPEAK UP RIGHT AWAY, AND WE WOULD ABSOLUTELY MAKE IT A POINT TO MEET WITH THEM, AS WE ARE GOING TO TODAY, WITH TWO MORE AWESOME ORGANIZATIONS. WE'RE GOING TO -- LET'S SEE...

[3.a. Minutes from April 16, 2026, May 21, 2026, June 18, 2026, July 16, 2026 ]

I COULD HAVE JUST COUNTED THOSE UP, AND THAT'S HOW MANY MEETINGS WE'VE HAD. SO DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY CHANGES, DIRECTIONS OR ERRORS IN THE MINUTES AS THEY WERE PRESENTED. IF NOT, I WOULD SEEK A MOTION TO

APPROVE AND A SECOND. >> MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE

THOSE MINUTES AS PRESENTED. >> THANK YOU.

IS THERE A SECOND? >> SECOND.

>> OKAY, GREAT. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECONDED. ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY

[4.a. Presentation by Jim Ginder, Health Education and Outreach Coordinator and Shai Davis, Accreditation Coordinator, Hamilton County Health Department ]

THAT CARRIES, AND WE WILL NOW GO INTO NEW BUSINESS.

WE ARE SUPER EXCITED TO HAVE WITH US JIM GINDER AND SHAI DAVIS. THEY ARE WITH THE HEALTH EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. WTHEY HAVE AN AWESOME VEHICLE OT IN THE PARKING LOT. I WISH I WOULD HAVE TAKEN A PICTURE OF IT, BECAUSE IT'S GREAT.

IT TELLS ME EXACTLY WHAT'S GOING ON, FROM THE HAMILTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. SO WE ARE GOING TO TURN OVER THE FLOOR TO YOU, GIVE YOU OUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION, AND I WILL JUST SAY THAT THEY REACHED OUT TO US AFTER ONE OF OUR VERY, VERY EARLY MEETINGS. IT'S TAKEN A WHILE TO COORDINATE. AND SO THIS IS PERFECT TIMING, BECAUSE WE KNOW SO MUCH MORE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR COUNTY. THIS IS REALLY GREAT TIMING FOR YOU TO PRESENT. SO WELCOME.

THANK YOU FOR GETTING UP WITH US AT THIS EARLY HOUR.

WE KNOW YOU'RE HARD WORKERS. AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS.

>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING US. FIRST, I'D LIKE TO COMMEND THE CITY FOR THIS COMMISSION AND FOR WORKING ON FOOD ACCESS EFFORTS HERE IN CARMEL. YOU'RE REALLY TAKING THAT SENSE OF DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR TAKING CARE OF YOUR RESIDENTS, AND I THINK THAT PUTS CARMEL IN A POSITION TO LEAD THE WAY AND SERVE AS A MODEL FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES AROUND FOOD ACCESS EFFORTS. I HI ALSO PERSONALLY RELATE TO S ISSUE. HAMILTON COUNTY IS CONSISTENTLY RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE BEST COUNTIES IN THE COUNTRY TO LIVE IN, AND THAT REPUTATION PLAYED A BIG ROLE AS TO WHY WE MOVED TO A CARMEL ADJACENT CITY HERE. I WAS A TRAILING SPOUSE, SO I WAS UNEMPLOYED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS, WITH A COUPLE KIDS, AND WE ALSO BOUGHT OUR FIRST HOME, AND I CRASHED MY CAR, AND SO IT WAS A MULTITUDE OF STRESSFUL SITUATIONS IN ONE VERY SHORT TIME. AND I WAS JUST VERY GRATEFUL THAT, THROUGH THE SCHOOL, THEY OFFERED THE BACK SACK PROGRAM, AND IT WAS SUCH A DISCRETE WAY FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE FOOD THAT WE NEEDED AS A FAMILY, WHWHEN I JUST COULD NOT GET OVER THE HUMP OF THE STIGMA OF GOING TO THE PANTRY.

SO I UNDERSTAND AND RECOGNIZE WHAT THE NEEDS ARE IN THE COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF NOT NECESSARILY MEETING ELIGIBILITY FOR SNAP OR FOR WICK, BUT STILL STRUGGLING TO MEET THE DAYS FROM DAY-TO-DAY. YOU'VE HEARD FROM HARVEST FOOD BANK, MEALS ON MEALS, SNAP: THE ONE THING THAT WE REALLY

[00:10:06]

AND SO I'LL TAKE YOU BACK TO FOOD INSECURITY, ABOUT USDA'S DEFINITION. IT'S NOT JUST HAVING ACCESS TO ENOUGH FOOD FOR A HEALTHY LIFE, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO CONSIDER NUTRITIOUS SECURITY. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FOOD PEOPLE CAN ACCESS IS NUTRITIOUS AND SUPPORTS THEIR HEALTH OVER THE LONG-TERM. GOOD INSECURITY RATE IN HAMILTON COUNTY WENT FROM ABOUT 6% IN 2021 TO ROUGHLY 10% IN 2024.

THAT'S AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 70% IN THOSE THREE YEARS.

AND AS HAMILTON COUNTY CONTINUES TO GROW, IT MAKES SENSE THAT THE NUMBER GROWS WITH IT. WE'RE ALSO COMING OUT OF A PERIOD WHERE THERE WERE ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS AVAILABLE DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC, THE PANDEMIC ERA BENEFITS, AND MANY OF THOSE SUPPORTS ARE NO LONGER HERE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS -- I APOLOGIZE FOR THE NUMBERS, THAT THEY'RE SMALL, BUT I'LL PROVIDE YOU WITH MORE CONTEXT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY STANDS OUT TO US IS THE GAP BETWEEN QUALIFYING FOR ASSISTANCE AND ACTUALLY BEING ABLE TO CONSISTENTLY AFFORD NUTRITIOUS FOOD.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE 2026 GROSS INCOME LIMIT FOR SNAP FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR IS AROUND $41,800.

HOWEVER, FEEDING AMERICA SHOWS THAT ABOUT 80% OF FOOD INSECURE HAMILTON COUNTY RESIDENTS DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THESE BENEFITS.

AND WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT IT ACTUALLY TAKES TO MAKE ENDS MEET IN HAMILTON COUNTY, USING THE ALICE SURVIVAL BUDGET THAT YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH, IT'S 80,000.

AND YOU CAN SEE THAT, IN CARMEL, TOO, WHERE ROUGHLY 1 IN 5 HOUSEHOLDS FALL BELOW THE ALICE THRESHOLD.

SO THAT'S REALLY WHERE WE SEE THE TWO GAPS WE WANT TO FOCUS ON. ONE IS MAKING SURE PEOPLE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE KNOW AND CAN CONNECT TO THE RESOURCES AND BENEFITS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM THROUGH SNAP OR THROUGH WICK, AND THE OTHER IS HOW DO WE REACH THE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT QUALIFY WHICH ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO CONSISTENTLY

AFFORD NUTRITIOUS FOOD. >> SHAI.

ARE YOU OPEN TO A COUPLE OF QUALIFYING QUESTIONS?

>> QUESTION. > AND EXCUSE ME FOR INTERRUPTING. SO JUST J, AND COMMISSIONERS, FR THOSE NUMBERS THAT ARE SMALL, YOU CAN SEE THEM IF YOU JUST TOUCH ON THEM, BUT NOW IT'S ON ME, SO SORRY ABOUT H THAT.

LET'S GO OVER THAT REALLY QUICK. THE CARMEL NUMBER THAT'S IN RED

THERE, 38,426. >> TOTAL, YES.

>> AND 20% OF THOSE HOUSEHOLDS FALL BELOW THE ALICE THRESHOLD.

SO THAT IS THE 7,860. HOW -- HOW CAN I RELATE THAT IN MY MIND TO SNAP? WHICH WE HAVE BEEN TOLD IS 1200? MAYBE IT'S APPLES AND ORANGES, BUT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE'S 1200, I BELIEVE, FAMILIES IN CARMEL ON SNAP ASSISTANCE, BUT WE WOULD HAVE ANOTHER LARGE GROUP WHO ARE STRUGGLING AS WELL. SO, IN MY MIND, I WAS THINKING

OF 1200. >> YES.

>> YOU NOW ARE JUST HITTING ME OVER THE HEAD WITH A NUMBER THAT'S MUCH LARGER. HELP ME TO FRAME THIS IN THE

RIGHT CONTEXT. >> YES.

SO, ON THAT RIGHT TABLE, WHERE IT SAYS "ESTIMATED SNAP PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY IN HAMILTON COUNTY"-- THIS IS FOR HAMILTON COUNTY NUMBERS, SO IT'S NOT PROVIDED FOR CARMEL, BUT WE CAN JUST USE THIS AS OUR EXAMPLE. SO 80% DO NOT QUALIFY FOR SNAP.

>> OKAY. >> IN THAT 7,860 NUMBER, WE'D ASSUME ONLY 20% WOULD QUALIFY FOR SNAP AND THE REST WOULDN'T, BUT THESE ARE STILL FOLKS WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO MEET BASIC

NEEDS, PRETTY MUCH. >> GOT IT.

OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

SO DO I -- AND, AGAIN, I APOLOGIZE IF I'M NOT GETTING IT, BUT DO I -- ARE THINGS WORSE THAN I THOUGHT? IS THAT HOW I SHOULD THINK OF THIS? OR IT'S JUST HOO LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS IN THE RIGHT WAY?

>> I THINK THE WAY TO THINK ABOUT THIS IS THAT, FOR THOSE

[00:15:01]

AND SO WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP THOSE WHO COULD QUALIFY FOR BENEFITS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE 80%, BECAUSE THIS IS A MUCH BIGGER NUMBER THAT -- IT'S PRETTY MUCH, LIKE, 6,000, I COULD SAY, LIKE, IF I SUBTRACT.

>> YES, THAT'S WHAT I -- >> AND BECAUSE THEY DON'T QUALIFY FOR SNAP AND WICK, HOW DO WE CONNECT THEM TO F FOOD PANTRIES? JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND, THAT THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THIS INVISIBLE HUNGER, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T REALLY SHOW THAT THEY COULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS,

BUT THEY'RE STILL NEEDING. >> GREAT.

PERFECT. THANK YOU.

>> CAN I JUST FOLLOW UP, TOO? SO WE TALK ABOUT 1200 HOUSEHOLDS BEING ELIGIBLE FOR SNAP, BUT WE DON'T HAVE 1200 HOUSEHOLDS THAT ARE USING USE SNAP.THERE ARE SO MANY BARRR GAPS -- BARRIERS TO APPLYING TO SNAP. I MEAN HE CAN, IT'S AN ONEROUS .

SO IT'S A MUCH SMALLER PERCENTAGE THAT ARE USING SNAP.

AM I CORRECT IN THAT? >> CINDY, GREAT POINT.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M USING THE RIGHT LANGUAGE, BECAUSE I'M LEARNING ABOUT THIS. SO IF THE NUMBER IS -- IF THERE'S SOME BARRIER FOR THESE FOLKS WHO COULD GET SNAP BUT ARE NOT GETTING IT, I GUESS I MIGHT WANT TO KNOW, WHAT IS THAT NUMBER? AND THEN -- AND THEN, HOPEFULLY, SHAI AND JIM CAN HELP US LEARN HOW TO REACH OUT TO THOSE

PEOPLE. >> SOMEWHERE IN MY NOTES, I HAVE

WHAT THE NUMBER IS. >> YEAH.

IF WE COULD SEND THAT OUT IN AN EMAIL, OR AT LEAST GET THAT INTO THE REPORT. THANK YOU.

>> GOING BACK TO OUR PUBLIC HEALTH HAT: PROCESSED FOOD FILLS THE NEED, AND THIS IS SOMETHING WE KNOW WHEN PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO STRETCH THEIR GROCERY BUDGET, COST MATTERS. THE CHEAPER OPTION BECOMES THE MORE REALISTIC OPTION. ADULTS IN FOOD INSECURE HOUSEHOLDS ARE AT INCREASED RISK FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, CHOLESTEROL, HEART DISEASE AND TYPE 2 DIABETES.

SO JUST ONE OF THE WHYS THAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS REALLY LOOKING INTO FOOD INSECURITY. WE ARE TRACKING AND SEEING AN INCREASE IN SEVERAL CHRONIC DISEASE INDICATORS IN HAMILTON COUNTY. THIS IS CDC DATA.

THAT'S WHENWHAT WE'RE USING TO R TRENDS.

HIGH CHOLESTEROL HAS INCREASED FROM 2 27 TO 33.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE HAS INCREASED FROM 26 TO 30%.

SO WE DON'T WANT TO SUGGEST THAT FOOD INSECURITY IS THE SOLE CAUSE OF THESE TRENDS, BECAUSE THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF FACTORS INVOLVED, BUT ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD IS ONE PIECE OF THE BIG EPICTURE THAT WE'RE PRIORITIZING AS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, AND WITH THAT...

TRANSITIONING TO JIM, HE'S GOING TO SHARE WHAT WE FOUND DURING

OUR SESSIONS. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US THIS MORNING. MY NAME IS JIM GINDER, AND I MANAGE THE EDUCATION OUTREACH DIVISION AT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. AND WHAT WE DID IS WE PARTNERED WITH TWO ORGANIZATIONS, AND WE DID A LISTENING SESSION, AND WHAT WE DID IS WE ASKED SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO INDIVIDUALS AT THESE DIFFERENT SESSIONS AND GOT SOME GREAT RESPONSES.

AND ONE OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE SAW, AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN HERE, THE GAP IS AWARENESS AND RESOURCES.

A LOT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, SPECIFICALLY AT THE GRACE CARE CENTER, WERE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE NOT BORN HERE IN THE U.S.

AND A LOT OF 'EM HAD A LOT OF DIETARY QUESTIONS.

LIKE, I'M FROM A COUNTRY, AND I'M NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE FOOD HERE IN THE U.S. HOW DO I USE THIS FOOD? OR I HAVE VERY STRICT DIETARY RESTRICTIONS BECAUSE OF MY RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE HEARD WITH THESE FOCUS GROUPS IS STIGMA. I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO SEE ME WALKING INTO A FOOD PANTRY, OR I KNOW OR MY FRIENDS KNOW OR PEOPLE KNOW THAT THIS CHURCH OR THIS ORGANIZATION IS A FOOD PANTRY, AND I DON'T WANT TO BE IDENTIFIED AS SOMEONE WHO CAN'T PROVIDE FOOD FOR MY FAMILY AS WELL, TOO.

[00:20:01]

WITH PEAS, CORN AND VEGETABLES, TO MAKE CORNY LITTLE PHRASES TO SAY, HEY, IT'S OKAY TO USE THOSE FOOD PANTRIES TOO.

A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE FOCUS GROUPS SAY, IF I GO TO A FOOD PANTRY -- RIGHT? WE HAVE ALL THIS FOOD.

WHAT CAN I GET TO MAKE A HEALTHY, NUTRITION DINNER FOR MY FAMILY? SO I ACTUALLY HAD TWO INTERNS THIS SUMMER, A GRADUATE STUDENT AND AN UNDER GRADUATE STUDENT, AND WE PAIRED WITH ONE OF THE PANTRIES IN NOBELSVILLE.

AND THEY WENT SHOPPING AND GRABBED SOME FOOD FROM THE PANTRY AND ACTUALLY DID A YOUTUBE VIDEO TO SEE PEOPLE THAT, HEY, THESE ARE THE FOODS THAT WE RECEIVED FROM THE FOOD PANTRY AND THE MEALS THAT WE MADE OUT OF THEM, TOO.

AND ONE OF MY TEAM MEMBERS ALSO HAS DEVELOPED SOME RECIPES FOR FOOD THAT WE SEE THAT EVERY FOOD PANTRIES HAVE THAT THEY CAN USE THE RECIPES TO MAKE THAT FOOD AS WELL, TOO.

ONE OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT CAME UP WITH THESE FOCUS GROUPS IS MORE EDUCATION. SO, MY TEAM DOES A LOT OF EDUCATION IN THE COMMUNITY. AND SOME THINGS THAT WE WERE KIND OF THROWING AROUND IS FOOD SAFETY IS ONE.

YOU SAW -- I CALL IT THE JIM MOBILE OUT IN THE PARKING LOT THERE. WE ALSO HAVE A MOBILE CLINIC AS WELL, WHERE WE CAN GO OUT AND DO BLOOD PRESSURES, CHOLESTEROLS, GLUCOSE LEVELS, AND WE HAVE PAIRED WITH SOME LOCAL PANTRIES TO GO OUT AND DO THAT. MY TEAM SAW 37 PEOPLE IN ONE VISIT AND 57 IN ANOTHER VISIT. AND WE'RE DOING THOSE RAPID SCREENING TESTS, AND IF THOSE TESTS COME UP REACTIVE, THEN WE CAN SAY, HEY, TAKE THESE RESULTS TO YOUR PROVIDER.

BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PROVIDER, LET US HOOK YOU UP WITH ONE OF OUR PROVIDERS, SUCH AS TRINITY HEART & SOUL OR ANOTHER FREE OR LOW-COST CLINIC THAT WE WORK WITH AS WELL, TOO.

ANOTHER ISSUE THAT WE FOUND DURING THIS FOCUS GROUP IS FINANCIAL LITERACY. A LOT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS SAY, DO YOU KNOW WHAT? I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW -- HOW THE ECONOMY WORKS HERE IN THE U.S.

THIS IS MY PAYCHECK, AND I GOT TO FIGURE OUT AM I GOING TO PAY MY RENT FIRST OR AM I GOING TO GO GET FOOD FIRST AS WELL, TOO? SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WILL BE PARTNERING WITH A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION TO DO SOME OF THAT EDUCATION FOR THEM AS WELL.

SOME OF THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT MY TEAM AND I CAME UP WITH WAS -- BESIDES THE FOOD SAFETY, THE COOKING CLASS, WE TALK ABOUT NUTRITION CLASSES AS WELL, TOO. HEALTHY HEART STUFF.

HEY, FOOD IS GOOD FOR US, BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CHOOSE THAT RIGHT FOOD AS WELL. AND IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHEN YOU GO TO THE FOOD PANTRY TO GET YOUR FOOD PRODUCT, ASK SOMEBODY, OR WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENT RECIPE CARDS AS WELL, TOO, SO SHOW, IF YOU GET THIS TYPE OF FOOD, THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN MAKE WITH IT AS WELL, TOO.

SO IT WAS KIND OF AN EYE-OPENING EXPERIENCE FOR ME JUST TO SEE THAT ALL OF THESE INDIVIDUALS HAD ALL THESE CONCERS THAT WE JUST NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT UNTIL WE DID THAT FOCUS GROUP AS WELL.

TOO. AND I'M NOT GOING TO READ THIS ALL TO YOU, BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THIS, BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY DISHEARTENING THAT WE HAD ALL THESE INDIVIDUALS IN THOSE FOUR FOCUS GROUPS THAT HAD REALLY SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS, AND WE WERE JUST, LIKE, WE JUST NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT SOME OF THE CONCERNS. -- EXCUSE ME -- THAT THEY HAD, AND NOW WE'RE WORKING TO PROFESSIONALLY ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS AS WELL, TOO. SO, WHAT CAN WE DO? RIGHT? , AS I TALKED ABOUT THAT PUBLIC EDUCATION. THAT NUTRITION EDUCATION.

WE HAVE A GREAT SHOPPING PRESENTATION THAT WE DO.

AND, BASICALLY, WE TELL PEOPLE IS, DO NOT GO INTO THE CENTER AISLES OF A GROCERY STORE F YOU STAY ON THE OUTER AISLES OF THE GROCERY STORE, THAT'S USUALLY ALL YOU NEED, BECAUSE USUALLY STUFF IN THE CENTER IS STUFF WE DON'T NEED, LIKE THE HIGH FRUCTOSE SUGAR STUFF, ALL THAT OTHER STUFF AS WELL.

WE ALSO TALK ABOUT THE HEALTHY COOKING CLASSES TOO.

WE HAVE A NAVIGATOR IN OUR OFFICE THAT SHE'S TALKED ABOUT DOING SOME NAVIGATION COURSES FOR INDIVIDUALS AS WELL, TOO.

HOPEFULLY ALL OF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE COMMUNITY COMPASS. THAT'S ANOTHER GREAT RESOURCE THAT WE PUSH OUT TO INDIVIDUALS TOO.

AND WE HAVE ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT'S NAVIGATE HAMILTON COUNTY.ORG, AND THAT'S JUST ANOTHER WEBSITE, WITH TONS AND TONS OF DIFFERENT RESOURCES, FROM, HEY, I NEED HELP PAYING A BILL. SO WE CAN -- IN THAT WEBSITE THERE, THE LIST OF TRUSTEES. AND THERE'S ALSO AN A.I. PART OF

[00:25:01]

AND, 12 TO 24 HOURS, THERE'LL BE A REAL PERSON EITHER CALL THIS INDIVIDUAL BACK OR EMAIL THEM AND SAY, HEY, I'M THE NAVIGATOR FOR 4. FOR HC.

ITCH GI GOT YOUR CONCERN. WHAT CAN I HELP YOU WITH? OR READING WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR, THESE ARE SOME RESOURCES THAT CAN HELP YOU THROUGH THE PROCESS, TOO.

AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE OUT WITH OUR MOBILE CLINIC, TOO, AND DOING THAT SOFT HANDOFF TO PROVIDERS, SAYING, HEY, WE JUST DID A SCREENING FOR THIS INDIVIDUAL.

HERE ARE THEIR RESULTS. THEY'RE A LITTLE HIGH.

WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOUR PATIENT DID HAVE THIS PROCEDURE DONE, AND WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU AS YOUR PROVIDER CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THEM, AND IF, AS I MENTIONED, IF THEY DON'T HAVE ONE, THEN HOOK THEM UP WITH OUR PARTNERS AT TRINITY CLINIC OR HEART & SOUL, MAKING SURE THAT THEY GET INTO THOSE CLINICS AND WE FOLLOW UP WITH THEM AS WELL, TOO. AND THESE ARE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE CAME UP WITH.

AGAIN, INCREASE AWARENESS OF THAT COMMUNITY COMPASS.

THAT'S SO IMPORTANT, BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS A CELLPHONE THESE DAYS, AND EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY.

JUST TO LET 'EM KNOW THAT, HEY, THERE IS A RESOURCE OUT THERE AS WELL, TOO. ALSO REDUCING STIGMA.

THAT IS A BIG THING. AND KIND OF SHAI TOLD HER PERSONAL STORY. I ALSO HAVE ONE.

SO, WHEN I WAS A KID, 10,000 MILLION YEARS AGO, MY DAD LAID AT FORD, AND HE WAS LAID OFF.

AND MY FOLKS STRUGGLED TO GET FOOD.

AND THEY WOULD NEVER GO TO A FOOD PANTRY, BECAUSE THEY HAD THE MISCONCEPTION THAT THAT'S JUST FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T WORK AND ALL THAT TYPE OF STUFF. WE KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE.

AND MY FAMILY WOULD HAVE BEEN GRATEFUL IF SOMEBODY HAD SAID, HEY, IT'S OKAY TO GO TO A FOOD PANTRY UNTIL YOU GET BACK ON YOUR FEET, AND WE'RE GOING TO HELP YOU THROUGHOUT THAT PROCESS. SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO LET PEOPLE KNOW IS, O HEY, IS OKAY TO GO TO A FOOD PANTRY, TOO. AND OTHER THINGS WE DO IS SUPPORT OTHER FOOD PANTRIES. ONE OF MY TEAM MEMBERS GOES TO WHITE RIVER FOOD PANTRY, AND ON THURSDAYS, THEY HAVE THEIR LATE PANTRY HOURS, SO WE PARK OUR MOBILE CLINIC THERE.

AFTER THE INDIVIDUAL'S COME OUT OF THE PANTRY, THEY SEE THE CLINIC THAT WE HAVE AND THEY COME IN AND THEY GET THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE AND ALL THOSE IMPORTANT TESTS DONE.

THEN WE CAN REFER THEM TO A PROVIDER IF THEY NEED IT AS WELL, TOO. ALSO MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PUSHING FOOD INSECURITY, THAT IT MENTIONED, ONE OF OUR KPOS IS GETTING INFORMATION OUT THIS ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY TOO, AND WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS A RESOURCE FOR THEM.

WHAT QUESTION DO YOU HAVE FOR ME ABOUT MY SECTION OF FOOD

INSECURITY? >> SO, I WANT TO JUST BACK UP

HERE. >> SURE.

>> JUST A SECOND. SO, JIM, YOU ARE THE HEALTH

EDUCATION OUTREACH COORDINATOR. >> CORRECT.

>> SO, YOU DO THINGS LIKE THIS, HELPING THE COMMUNITY.

ARE THERE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR COMMISSION TO ENGAGE YOU

TO COME WITH US AND HELP? >> OH, VERY MUCH SO.

THAT'S SOMETHING -- YES, WE WOULD LOVE FOR THAT.

AND THEN SHAI, I DIDN'T EVEN SAY WHAT YOUR POSITION IS, BUT YOU'RE THE ACCREDITATION COORDINATOR.

WOULD YOU MIND JUST TELLING US WHAT THAT IS AND HOW WE MIGHT WANT TO KNOW HOW WE CAN ENGAGE YOU, SHOULD WE NEED YOU?

ACCREDITATION COORDINATION...? >> WELL, IT'S MORE OF, LIKE, TRYING TO GET OUR HEALTH DEPARTMENT MORE ORGANIZED AND MORE EFFICIENT ORGANIZATION. SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAD TO DO IN ORDER TO GET ACCREDITED IS CONDUCT A NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND PROVIDE A COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN, AND ONE OF THE PRIORITIES IN THAT PLAN IS FOOD INSECURITY, SO THAT'S WHY WE REALLY WANT TO ALIGN AND CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR INITIATIVES SO THAT WE COULD GET THESE HEALTH OUTCOMES INTO A MUCH

BETTER PLACE. >> THAT'S GREAT.

>> AND WE'RE THE SECOND HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN THE STATE OF INDIANA TO BE ACCREDITED. SO WE'RE THE SECOND ONE OF ALL

93 HEALTH DEPARTMENTS. >> CONGRATULATIONS.

OKAY. SO ANY QUESTIONS FOR OUR

PRESENTERS HERE? >> I HAVE A QUESTION.

>> OKAY. >> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR

[00:30:01]

BEING HERE. >> OF COURSE.

>> THE INFORMATION IS REALLY GREAT.

AND I'M INTERESTED -- I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO DIGGING INTO THE COMMUNITY COMPASS AND NAVIGATE HC.ORG.

HOW -- BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY TREMENDOUS INFORMATION ABOUT THE RESOURCES THERE, BUT HOW DO YOU THINK WE CAN BEST PUBLICIZE OR HOW ARE YOU WORKING ON GETTING THESE

RESOURCES OUT TO PEOPLE, LIKE -- >> GREAT QUESTION.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL HAVE SEEN IT.

I KNOW T THE CITY OF FISHERS HAS TAKEN THE LEAD ON IT.

IT'S A BLUE SHEET OF PAPER LIKE -- YEAH, LIKE A RESOURCE CARD. A FOOD RESOURCE CARD, AND THERE'S A LOT OF RESOURCES ON THERE.

COMMUNITY COMPASS IS ON THERE. HC HAMILTON COUNTY, AND ANYWHERE WE GO, WE PASS THIS OUT AS WELL. SO I KNOW THE FOOD PANTRIES HAVE 'EM. I KNOW YOU GUYS HAVE THEM.

AT GRACE CARE CENTER. EVERYWHERE.

THEY'RE ON OUR SOCIAL NETWORKING PAGE AS WELL, TOO.

ANYTHING THAT YOU ALL CAN DO TO HELP US GET THIS INFORMATION OUT

WOULD BE GREAT. >> THAT'S THE THING: I FEEL AWARENESS IS SUCH AN ISSUE.

BECAUSE I'M ON SOCIAL MEDIA OBSESSIVELY.

IT'S JUST MY FUN PASTIME, AND I NEVER SEE ANYTHING REGARDING

THIS STUFF ON SOCIAL. >> LET ME GO BACK TO OUR P.R.

PERSON AND HAVE HER REPOST THAT, TOO, BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING WE'RE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT. THAT WE NEED TO KEEP THAT UPDATED, TOO. A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST DON'T GO TO

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S PAGE. >> WHAT'S THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. PEOPLE PROBABLY DON'T FOLLOW THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT. HOW DO WE GET THAT INFORMATION

SHARED AND OUT THERE? >> UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF SITES THAT ARE, HEY, HEALTH DEPARTMENT, CAN WE POST STUFF FROM YOU, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT WE'VE HAD THERE, PEOPLE KIND OF DISAGREE WITH IT, LIKE IMMUNIZATION STUFF.

AND YOU SAY, HEY, CAN YOU POST THIS FOR ME AND THEY SAY, WELL, THAT'S A CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC AND WE DON'T WANT TO POST IT, TOO.

SO IF YOU HAVE ANY GREAT IDEAS, THAT WOULD BE AWESOME, AND WE HAVE A GREAT P.R. TEAM THAT POST STUFF ON INSTAGRAM AND OTHER THINGS AS WELL. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY GREAT IDEAS,

THAT WOULD BE AWESOME. >> I THINK THAT WOULD BE AMAZING. IT'S MORE GETTING THE COMMUNITY

INVOLVED. >> CORRECT.

>> BECAUSE AS YOU SAY, PEOPLE DON'T FOLLOW THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, BUT GETTING THE CITY OR --

>> WELL, WE COULD CERTAINLY -- IF YOU HAVE MATERIALS --

>> OKAY. >> AND IF FISHERS HAS A HALF

PAGE, WE'LL HAVE A FULL PAGE. >> OKAY.

CAN PUT IT ON THE CITY'S -- WE HAVE OUR OWN PAGE NOW.

>> OH, COOL. >> I THINK IT'S UP.

SO WE CAN LIST RESOURCES OR ANY -- ANY DOCUMENTS OR ANYTHING YOU HAVE. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO; IS WE'RE GOING TO START BUILDING OUT THAT PAGE TO -- AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO LINK OR WHATEVER THE -- YOU KNOW, THE RIGHT WAY TO DO

IT, ON FOOD. >> THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

BECAUSE WE DO TONS OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITY FORUMS. LIKE, LAST NIGHT, I WAS AT WEST HILLS FIRE DEPARTMENT TEACHING SUICIDE PREVENTION, SO WE DO TONS OF OUTREACH AND EDUCATION TOO. THE LIBRARY IN CARMEL ON FOOD SAFETY. WE SO DO ALL OF AT THAT THAT

STUFF, TOO. >> AND I'D TELL YOU, IMMEDIATELY, I'D LOVE TO GET THAT VIDEO, TO MAKE WITH THE STUFF YOU GET FROM THE FOOD PANTRY.

ON OUR SITE. >> YEAH.

WE'LL HAVE SHAI SEND THAT TO YOU, TOO.

>> SO THE WAY TO MAKE THIS ACTUALLY HAPPEN IS TO CONNECT CAN SHEILA MUCH, WHO IS OUR PERSON IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, WHO HELPS US WITH EVERYTHING. AND SHE COMMUNICATED WITH YOU ABOUT HOW TO GET HERE AND ALL THAT BUSINESS, RIGHT? YEAH. OKAY.

GOOD. SO.

YEAH, ANYTHING. AND JUST SAY, HEY, WE'D LIKE TO

GET THAT ON OUR SITE. >> AWESOME.

>> OKAY. >> AND IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY IDEAS OR ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE AND SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE FOOD INSECURITY, PLEASE LET

US KNOW. >> YEAH.

>> WE ARE -- WE ARE LOOKING EVERY DAY FOR STUFF.

EVEN WHEN I GO INTO -- I DO A LOT OF FOOD SAFETY EDUCATION AT CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL, AND WE TALK ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY THERE, TOO, WITH THE FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCE TEACHER.

SO WE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME EVERY AS WELL, TOO.

SO IF Y'ALL HAVE ANY IDEAS, PLEASE LET US KNOW.

>> PERFECT. THAT'S AWESOME.

NOW, QUESTIONS. AMANDA?

>> I HAVE A COMMENT AND A QUESTION.

I'M ON STAFF AT A PUBLIC LIBRARY, AND MOST MUST BE PUBLIC LIBRARIES HAVE BOARDS THAT THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT WILL POST THINGS. YOU COULD VISIT PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND HAND OUT MATERIALS TO SEE IF THEY WOULD POST ON THEIR

[00:35:01]

LONG, AND THEY TAKE PICTURES AN- >> YEAH, I'LL DO THAT.

>> AND MY QUESTION IS WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WISH MORE PEOPLE -- BE IT THE PUBLIC OR CITY OFFICIALS -- UNDERSTOOD

ABOUT WHAT YOU DO? >> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK A LOT -- AND IT WAS -- DURING COVID, I HATE TO SAY THE "C" WORD, BUT GO BACK TO COVID, A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY SAW WHAT PUBLIC HEALTH DID. UNFORTUNATELY, NOW WE HAVE THE FLOODING, SO PEOPLE SEE WHAT WE DO.

BUT AFTER THESE BIG EVENTS PEOPLE JUST KIND OF TAKE US AND THROW US UNDER THE RUG AND DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT WE DO.

IN OUR OUR OFFICE, THERE'S FIVE DIFFERENT CLINICS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN COME TO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND GET FREE STD OFFER HIV TESTING TOO, IT OR FREE NARCAN. I KNOW SHAI DOES OTHER THINGS IN OUR NURSING DIVISION, SO THERE'S TONS OF STUFF THAT WE DO.

JUST PEOPLE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN WHAT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DOES UNLESS THERE IS AN EMERGENCY OR AN OUTBREAK OR THEY NEED US FOR SOMETHING. DOES THAT KIND OF ANSWER YOUR

QUESTION? >> ABSOLUTELY.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO AMPLIFY ALL THE GOOD WORK THAT YOU'RE

DOING. >> THAT'S IT.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF Y'ALL KNOW THIS: THAT WE HAVE TWO HEALTH DEPARTMENTS HERE IN HAMILTON COUNTY. WE HAVE OURS AND FISHERS: AND A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOWN THAT MY TEAM DOES ALL THE BODY ART INSPECTIONS, SO EVERY TATTOO ARTIST, MICRO BLADER HERE IN CARMEL ARE INSPECTED BY MY TEAM AS WELL.

TOO, AND PEOPLE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DO THAT AS WELL, TOO.

WE JUST DO A LOT OF STUFF THAT PEOPLE JUST DON'T KNOW THAT WE

DO. >> WE SEE YOU QUITE -- I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S YOUR TEAM, BUT TEAM WE WILL HAVE THE 50TH -- CARMEL 50TH ANNIVERSARY ICE CREAM SOCIAL TOMORROW FROM 5:30 TO 9:00, WITH LIVE MUSIC, FREE ICE CREAM, AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS INSPECTING TOMORROW.

YES. I HAVE TO HAVE A FREEZER.

BUT IT REALLY IS INTERESTING. CARMEL FEST.

WHATEVER. YOU'RE THERE, LIKE, ON A

SATURDAY MORNING INSPECTING. >> SO IT'S INTERESTING: I'M TEACHING -- FOR SOME WEIRD REASON, I -- THE DNR CALLED ME, BECAUSE THEY'RE DOING A RECERTIFICATION FOR THEIR WILDLIFE TRAPPERS, AND THEY WANT ME TO COME DO A CLASS ON WILDLIFE DISEASES, SO ON SATURDAY MORNING, I'LL BE AT COOL CREEK PARK TALKING ABOUT WILDLIFE DISEASES THAT THEY HAVE TO BE AWARE ABOUT WHEN THEY'RE OUT TRAPPING THESE CRITTERS.

SO EVERY DAY IS DIFFERENT. >> OKAY.

CINDY, YOU HAVE A QUESTION? KEVIN?

>> YOU JUST SAID THING THAT MADE ME THINK...

YOU DON'T DO ANY SORT OF MONITORING OR INSPECTING THE LOCAL FOOD PANTRIES. LIKE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO --

>> CORRECT. SO LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT FOOD PANTRIES. THE STATE STATUTES SAID IF YOU'RE A NON-PROFIT, YOU WILL NOT NEED TO BE INSPECTED.

GOOD SAMARITAN NETWORK IS KIND OF THE MOTHER OF ALL FOOD PANTRIES, SO T SHE REALLY DOES RECOMMEND THAT FOOD PANTRIES GET INSPECTED, SO WE INSPECT THEM FOR FREE.

HEY, YOU'VE GOT SOME FOOD THAT WE SAW ON THE SHELVES THAT ARE GETTING READY TO EXPIRE. JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THOSE HAVE GOT TO COME OUT, TOO. WE SEE THE TEMPERATURE IN YOUR FREEZER IS NOT BELOW WHERE IT SHOULD BE.

SO THEY DO DO THAT. AND I WILL TELL YOU, 90% OF ALL THE PANTRIES DO HAVE A FOOD INSPECTOR COME IN JUST TO DO A QUICK ASSESSMENT TO SAY, HEY, YOU'RE A DIFFERENT SET OF EYES.

WHAT DO YOU SEE THAT WE DON'T SEE? SO WE DO DO THAT, AND WE CAN DO THAT AS WELL.

>> ANY QUESTIONS? DID I SAY FREE ICE CREAM TOMORROW 5:30...? OKAY.

JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I SAID THAT.

OKAY. JIM AND SHAI, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING WITH US. AND YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY OR

[4.b. Presentation by Cara Augspurger, Ed.M., CFRE, President and CEO, Grace Care Center Foundation ]

THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF GRACE CARE CENTER FOUNDATION, AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TOUR HER FACILITY WITH -- SARA, YOU WERE THERE, TOO, WITH THE MAYOR AND SOME OTHER FOLKS, AND JUST SUPER IMPRESSED WITH THE -- I MEAN, AMAZING THERE, JUST THE FACILITY. SO WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU.

[00:40:01]

AND THE FLOOR IS YOURS. >> LET ME SHARE MY SCREEN.

OKAY. MAYBE I CAN PULL THAT OVER THERE. SORRY.

IT'S HARD TO NAVIGATE UPSIDE-DOWN.

>> YOU'RE GOOD? >> THERE YOU GO.

AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

WE ARE CLOSE FRIENDS WITH THE HAMILTON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, SO IT WAS REALLY NICE TO FOLLOW THAT.

WE DO WORK VERY CLOSELY. I WANTED -- I WAS ASKED HERE JUST TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE SEEING AT GRACE CARE CENTER, THE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES WE OFFER, AND WHERE WE CAN STEP INTO THE HUNGER SPACE HERE IN OUR AREA.

SO, GRACE CARE CENTER IS HOME TO HAMILTON COUNTY'S LARGEST FOOD PANTRY, AND IT IS DESIGNED LIKE A FREE FRESH FOOD MARKET.

WE WELCOME 12,000 PEOPLE A YEAR. AND THEY WALK IN AND GET A GROCERY CART. THEY SHOP WITH POINTS, INSTEAD OF DOLLARS. SO THAT THEY CAN SELECT ITEMS FOR THEIR FAMILY. THE NUMBER 1 ITEM OUT THE DOOR EVERY SINGLE WEEK OVER THE LAST 14 YEARS GRACE CARE HAS BEEN OPENED IS FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES, FOLLOWED BY DAIRY AND MEAT. WE WORK WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. WE ALSO SEE THAT, WHEN PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY, THERE'S USUALLY SOMETHING BIGGER GOING ON.

SO ALTHOUGH WE HAVE A GREAT FOOD PANTRY.

THAT'S NOT ALL WE TO. THAT'S OUR FRONT DOOR.

JUST LIK LIKE SHAI MENTIONED, WT WE SEE UNDER THE HUNGER ISSUE IS THAT RENTS HAVE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY.

MOST OF OUR FAMILIES ARE FEELING THAT QUITE A BIT.

THE COST OF FOOD... OH, MY LORD, WE'RE ALL FEELING THAT. CAMPBELLS FOODS JUST THIS WEEK WAS SAYING IT'S COMING, THE COST OF FOOD IS GOING TO GET HIGHER, AND THEN UTILITIES. THE ENERGY -- IT JUST IS SENSITIVE TO PUT GAS IN OUR CAR. IT'S EXPENSIVE TO HEAT AND COOL OUR HOMES SOME THOSE COLLECTIVELY ARE KIND OF MAKING A PERFECT STORM FOR OUR FAMILIES RIGHT NOW.

WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN HAMILTON COUNTY -- SHAI MENTIONED THIS QUITE A BIT -- THE FAMILIES WE SEE, ESPECIALLY AT GRACE CARE CENTER ARE OUR ALICE FAMILIES. THESE ARE A LOT OF OUR HOSPITALITY WORKERS. WE'RE SEEING TEACHERS AND PASTORS AND FIRST RESPONDERS. PEOPLE WHO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SO AMAZING ARE OFTEN THE ONES WHO ARE REALLY STRUGGLING TO AFFORD A HOUSEHOLD BUDGET. UNITED WAY SAYS 1 IN 3 FAMILIES CANNOT AFFORD A BASIC HOUSEHOLD BUDGET IN HAMILTON COUNTY, WHICH IS HARD TO BELIEVE, AND THAT 23% OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN ARE FACING THAT FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. AND, AGAIN, IT KIND OF COMES DOWN TO WHAT ARE THE ISSUES UNDERNEATH THAT HUNGER? AND A LOT OF IT IS THE WAGE GAP. HAMILTON COUNTY IS AN AMAZING PLACE TO LIVE, WORK. I'VE RAISED MY FAMILY HERE.

AND I THINK WE DON'T SEE IT AS -- THROUGHOUT OUR DAY-TO-DAY LIFE BECAUSE THERE IS THIS WEB OF GREAT NON-PROFITS, GREAT SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS WORKING VERY HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES WHO ARE FACING THESE THINGS ARE ABLE TO EASILY GET WHAT THEY NEED. AND I THINK SOMETIMES WHEN WE'RE UNAWARE THAT THESE SERVICES EXIST, IT MEANS THEY'RE DOING THEIR JOB. SO, HAMILTON COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION DID A GREAT STUDY. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET -- HAVE YOU READ THEIR "STRENGTHS AND GAPS -- "OPPORTUNITIES AND GAPS" REPORT? IT IS TRULY AMAZING.

THEY'VE DONE A LOT OF DATA. THEY REALLY DUG DOWN TO SEE WHAT HAMILTON COUNSEL THANK YOU'S COUNTY'S GOING TO LOOKLIKE OVER, AND THERE WERE SOME LARGE RED FLAGS THAT CAME TO THE SURFACE.

SAFE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR FAMILIES IS GOING TO BE A HUGE NEED AS OTHER POPULATION GROWS. LANGUAGE AND JOB TRAINING.

MENTAL HEALTH. HAMILTON COUNTY FOUNDATION SAYS, AS WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE, THESE ARE REALLY THINGS THAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON, AND AGAIN, OUR COUNTY IS GOING TO GROW EXPONENTIALLY OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS, AND THESE ARE GOING TO BECOME MORE PRESENT. SO AT GRACE CARE CENTER, FOOD IS

[00:45:02]

THOUGH IT'S RARELY THE ONLY THINGS GOING ON.

FAMILIES ARE OFTEN NAVIGATING TRANSPORTATION.

IF YOU DON'T HAVE RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION, IT'S HARD TO GET TO WORK, GET YOUR KIDS TO SCHOOL.

HOUSING: SAFE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE HAD A NUMBER OF HOMES IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT WERE IN THAT AFFORDABLE HOUSING RANGE THAT ARE NOW WIPED OUT BY FLOODS.

AND SO THAT OPENS ANOTHER PROBLEM THERE.

UTILITIES: HIGH EXPENSES.

LANGUAGE BARRIERS. MOMENT.

UNEXPECTED EXPENSES. WHEN THOSE CAR -- YOU KNOW, YOU NEED NEW TIRES ON YOUR CAR. A CAR DOES ACCIDENT HAPPENS.

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES. WE ARE SEEING FAMILIES THROWN INTO A SPIRAL, WHICH OFTEN RESULTS IN BARELY MAKING IT THROUGH. WHERE ALICE.

NOW WE'RE IN POVERTY THROUGH ONE EXPENSE, AND THEN LACK OF SAVINGS, TOO, SO THAT FINANCIAL EDUCATION PIECE.

OH, MAY I SHOW A VIDEO? IS THAT OKAY?

TO INTRODUCE GRACE CARE CENTER. >> (VOICE OVER ): THE GRACE CARE CENTER EXISTS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY CAN EASILY GET WHAT THEY NEED, FROM FOOD TO FAIR FINANCIAL HELP TO HELPING BREAK DOWN THOSE BIG BARRIERS THAT REALLY KEEP PEOPLE

FROM GETTING AHEAD. >> THE BIG DRAW OF THE CARE CENTER IS THE CHOICE FOOD PANTRY.

>> THE CHOICE FOOD PANTRY WAS BORN BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO NEEDED A LITTLE EXTRA HELP WITH FOOD. NOT JUST IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY, BUT ON A REGULAR BASIS.

>> MOST PEOPLE COME HERE TO USE THE FOOD PANTRY, AND THAT IS KIND OF HOW WE ARE FIRST INTRODUCED TO THEM, AND THROUGH THAT, THROUGH BUILDING THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM, THROUGH THE WAY THAT WE SERVE THEM, WE SHOW THEM THAT WE CARE, WE ARE ABLE TO WRITE THEM AND MAKE THEM AWARE OF THE OTHER SERVICES THAT

WE OFFER. >> IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATION THAT HAS A FREE FRESH FOOD MARKET AND WRAP-AROUND SERVICES ALL UNDER ONE ROOF.

>> WE HAVE A CO-OP PROGRAM. WE HAVE ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE. MICRO LOANS.

AND CAR CARE SERVICE. COMMUNITY FAIR.

A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS FOR US TO MEET THE WHOLE PERSON WHERE THEY'RE AT, AS OPPOSED TO JUST INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.

>> WHAT WE SEE UP FRONT IS SO SWEET, SO BEAUTIFUL, SO NICE.

EVERYBODY SEEMS TO UNDERSTAND YOU, AND THE KIND OF HELP THEY

OFFER IS REAL HELP. >> SO AFTER COMING HERE FOR A YEAR, I LEARNED HOW GRATEFUL I WAS TO HAVE A PLACE TO GO TO.

>> ITCHING WE OFTENTIMES WILL -- I THINK WE OFTENTIMES WILL SEE IN OTHERS A MORE PHYSICAL NEED, BUT IT GOES WAY BEYOND THAT, SO WE REALLY DO TREAT EVERYBODY WHO COMES IN AS OUR FRIEND.

WE BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM, AND IN A LOT OF CASES, WE

DO LIFE WITH THEM. >> YOU KNOW, YOU SEE THEM AS -- FOR WHO THEY ARE AS INDIVIDUALS, AND THEY BECOME MORE AND MORE UNIQUE THE MORE AND MORE YOU GET TO KNOW THEM.

>> WELL, WE TALK ABOUT IMPACT AT GRACE CARE CENTER.

I SEE A FEW DIFFERENT THINGS. I SEE IMPACT IN OUR FAMILIES THAT COME THROUGH THE DOOR FOR THE CHOICE FOOD PANTRY.

THEY'RE GETTING SOME IMMEDIATE NEEDS MET.

BUT I'M ALSO SEEING IMPACT FROM MAYBE FAMILIES WHO NOW CAN SPEAK ENGLISH A LITTLE MORE PROFICIENTLY, AND THAT MEANS THAT THEY'VE JUST OPENED SOME DOORS TO A BETTER JOB AND A

BETTER LIFE FOR THEIR FAMILY. >> ONE OF THE IMPACTS THAT I SEE WITH OUR FRIENDS IS THAT THEY HAVE BUILT COMMUNITY.

THEY COME EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT, IS JUST HAPPENS TO BE WHEN I'M THERE. AND THEY LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING

ONE ANOTHER. >> IN THE CO-OP, WHICH IS WHERE I HAVE VOLUNTEERED, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND ABOUT AN HOUR ONCE A MONTH WITH OUR CO-OP FRIENDS.

THEY REALLY OPEN UP AND SHARE DEEP INSIGHTS INTO WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR LIFE, AND IT TAKES TIME TO BUILD THAT KIND OF TRUST WITH THEM, BUT I SO ADMIRE THEIR WILLINGNESS TO INVEST IN TRYING TO MAKE THEIR LIVES BETTER AND SHARING SOME OF THE CHALLENGES

THAT THEY'RE FACING. >> I KNOW FAMILIES WHO ARE USING THE CARE CENTER, INVOLVED IN ENGLISH CLASS, AND INVOLVED IN OUR CO-OP PROGRAM. SO I JUST LOVE THE MULTIPLE WAYS THAT WE IMPACT PEOPLE THE MORE THEY GET INVOLVED, AND THAT'S

BEEN SO COOL TO BE A PART OF. >> MY HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE CARE CENTER IS THAT WE WILL PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THE NEEDS ARE IN HAMILTON COUNTY AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS.

WE WILL LISTEN TO GOD'S CALL ON OUR LIVES AND FOR THE ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE, AND THEN WE WILL ACT APPROPRIATELY.

>> AT GRACE CARE CENTER, WE BELIEVE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO OFFER CHOICE AND NOT JUST CHARITY, BECAUSE WE WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL VALUED. AT THE CORE, CHOICES ARE DIGNIFIED, AND WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE MORE THAN THE TROUBLE THAT THEY'RE FACING RIGHT NOW.

>> THANKS FOR THAT. I FORGOT THATTIESSLED THAT IN

[00:50:03]

WE ARE OPEN EVENING AND DAYTIME HOURS BECAUSE WE'VE LEARNED OVER TIME THAT IT'S VERY HARD FOR FAMILIES IF A PANTRY JUST HAS A 3:00 IN THE AFTERNOON SHIFT. DO I LEAVE WORK AND SACRIFICE MAKING MONEY FOR MY FAMILY SO I CAN GO GET FOOD? WHAT DO I DO? SO WE TRY TO HAVE SOME DIFFERENT HOURS TO -- TO HAVE BETTER CHOICES FOR OUR FAMILIES WHO ARE COMING FOR CARE. THE VIDEO MENTIONED THIS, BUT WE HAVE AN APPROACH, A THOUGHTFUL APPROACH, TO SERVING THOSE IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO WE START WITH FOOD.

FOOD IS DEFINITELY OUR FRONT DOOR THROUGH OUR CHOICE FOOD PANTRY, AND WE HAVE A MOBILE PANTRY THAT GOES INTO THE COMMUNITY EVERY OTHER WEEK. AND THAT HELPS MEET THOSE IMMEDIATE NEEDS. WE HAVE A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT COME TO US IN A POINT OF CRISIS, AND THAT'S A NICE STABILIZER.

IT'S A GREAT BUDGET STRETCHER. I -- MY FAMILY OF FIVE, I WOULD SHOP IN THE CHOICE FOOD PANTRY WITH ABOUT 40 TO 45 POINTS EVERY WEEK, AND I CAN CHOOSE ITEMS THAT I WANT FOR MY FAMILY.

I DID THAT. I WENT THROUGH THE PANTRY.

I SELECTED THOSE ITEMS. I TOOK A PICTURE.

I WENT TO KROEGER JUST ACROSS THE ROAD FROM GRACE CARE CENTER, AND I BOUGHT THOSE EXACT SAME ITEMS. IT WAS $210. SO IF A FAMILY COMES TO US -- SOMETIMES THEY COME AND THEY SAY, I'M GOOD ON FOOD.

I NEED HELP WITH RENT. I NEED HELP WITH UTILITIES.

WHAT IF... WHAT IF YOU HAD AN ADDITIONAL 400 TO $800 A MONTH IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD BUDGET? WHAT COULD YOU DO WITH THAT? SO WE'RE USING FOOD AS A BUDGET STRETCHER AS STEP 1 AND INTRODUCING THEM.

THEY OFTEN HAVE A REALLY GREAT EXPERIENCE, BUILD TRUST, AND MOVE TO TRUST US THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS.

WE HAVE A BACK-TO-SCHOOL BACKPACK FAIR.

A TOY STORE AT CHRISTMAS TIME. WE OFFER ZERO INTEREST LOANS SO THAT, WHEN THOSE BIG EXPENSES HAPPEN, THEY THEY CAN COME TO US. WE HAD A LOT OF FAMILIES WHO WERE TAKING OUT HIGH-INTEREST PREDATORY LOANS.

MANY CHURCHES HAVE A BENEVOLENCE POT.

THAT MONEY WOULD GO OUT TO HELP WITH RENT OR NEW TIRES ON A CAR.

PEOPLE WERE COMING F TO US AND SAYING, CAN I PAY YOU BACK? WELL, IF YOU PAY IT BACK, IT GETS RECYCLED AND IT GETS TO GO OUT TO SOMEONE ELSE, AND WHICH HAVE 100% PAYBACK ON THAT SINCE 2020, WHICH IS TRULY AMAZING. FREE OIL CHANGES AND INSPECTIONS THROUGH CHRISTIAN BROTHERS IN WESTFIELD, AND WE DO HAVE 250 OF THOSE A YEAR. WE ALSO HAVE A THRIFT STORE THAT'S ALSO OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND ALSO CREATES A NICE REVENUE FOR GRACE CARE CENTER. SO THOSE PROGRAMS ARE HELPING TO BREAK SOME OF THOSE UNDERLYING BARRIERS TO POVERTY.

AND THEN WE HAVE TWO PROGRAMS THAT REALLY CREATE LASTING CHANGE. SO WE'RE MOVING FROM THOSE PROGRAM STABILIZERS TO LASTING CHANGE, AND THAT'S OUR CO-OPS.

SO THAT'S THAT ONE-ON-ONE FINANCE AND BUDGET COACHING, LIFE NAVIGATION. PEOPLE WORK THROUGH A RUBRIC OF SORTS FROM, I DON'T HAVE A RESUME SO,, TO I'VE LEVELED-UP Y JOB. AND WE HAVE GRADUATED OVER A HUNDRED FAMILIES FROM EVER NEEDING TO COME BACK AND USE A FOOD PANTRY, AND THAT'S THE GOAL.

ENGLISH CLASSES AS WELL. PEOPLE PARTICIPATE IN ENGLISH CLASSES OVER FOUR LEVELS OF ENGLISH.

AND ARE GETTING BETTER JOBS. DON'T NEED TO COME USE THE FOOD PANTRY. SO THOSE PROGRAMS ARE TRULY IMPACTFUL. IN 2025, WE SAW 12,000 PEOPLE -- JUST SHY OF 12,000 PEOPLE, AND 900 -- AND THAT WAS OVER ABOUT 2500 FAMILIES. 925 OF THOSE FAMILIES WERE BRAND NEW. SO PEOPLE WHO HAD NEVER NEEDED TO COME ASK FOR HELP BEFORE WERE AT OUR DOOR SAYING, I NEED A LITTLE BIT OF HELP. AND A LOT OF THAT WAS LAST FALL WHEN THE SNAP BENEFITS WERE SHAKY, WHEN FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WHO WERE RECEIVING A PAYCHECK, SO SOME OF THOSE WERE SITUATIONAL. WE DO CONSISTENTLY OVER 600 FAMILIES EACH WEEK, AND HERE'S THE BIG PROBLEM: I THREW A RED FLAG ON THAT SLIDE, IT WOULD BE 2400 FAMILIE- ARE COMING TO GRACE CARE CENTER. WE HAVE 600 PANTRY OPENINGS.

SO WE'RE NOW INTENTIONALLY STUDYING HOW CAN WE BE A BETTER SOLUTION FOR THE FAMILIES WHO ARE COMING FOR CARE, AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEED AHEAD, HOW CAN WE BE A BETTER SOLUTION FOR WHAT'S COMING? SO, YEAH, THOSE STABLE FINANCIAL SITUATIONS HAVE RIPPLE EFFECTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

AS PEOPLE GET STRONGER, HAS RIPPLE EFFECTS ON THE NEXT GENERATION, THE PEOPLE THAT THEY WORK WITH IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

WE WANT TO BE PART OF A NETWORK, WHICH WE CERTAINLY DO.

WE ENGAGE 300 VOLUNTEERS A WEEK ACROSS ALL SOCIOECONOMIC GROUPS.

[00:55:02]

TIME IS OF ESSENCE FOR ALL OF US, BUT ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE TRANSPORTATION-DEPENDENT AND HUNGRY, IT'S REALLY NICE TO HAVE THOSE SERVICE PROVIDERS RIGHT THERE IN OUR WELCOME ROOM WHO CAN HELP TO PROVIDE THOSE NEEDS. WE CAN ACCOMMODATE LARGE TEAMS, WHICH IS NICE, AND THEN WE HAVE DISABILITY-FRIENDLY VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT FOR THE LAST AT LEAST 12 OR 13 YEARS.

CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL SENDS A VOCATIONAL PROGRAM, STUDENTS WHO ARE 18 TO 21, POST THAT TYPICAL CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL AGE, AND THEY'RE COMING IN AND LEARNING TO PUSH CARTS AND GROCERIES, WHICH THEY CAN GO TO KROEGER AND TRANSFER THOSE SKILLS, WHICH IS GREAT. WE HAVE ONE CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT VOLUNTEERING AT THE CARE CENTER.

HE'LL BE 30 IN JANUARY, AND HE STILL MAKES -- HE TAKES THE TRANSPORTATION BUS TO THE CARE CENTER EVERY MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY AND VOLUNTEERS, AND HE'S DEFINITELY A BEAUTIFUL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE DO SOURCE FOOD FROM 32 DIFFERENT PROVIDERS, INCLUDING RETAILERS AND FOOD BANKS, SO WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE ROUTES THAT WILL GO TO COSTCO, WALMART, KROEGER, MEYER. WE WORK WITH DIFFERENT FOOD BANKS, TOO, LIKE MIDWEST AND GLEANERS.

HELPING IN THAT FOOD RESCUE SPACE AS WELL.

SARA HAS LED OUR SCHOOL FOOD RESCUE EFFORTS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND IT'S REALLY NICE TO SEE ESPECIALLY SOME OF THOSE UNUSED YOGOURTS AND ORANGES AND FOOD ITEMS BEING ABLE TO HELP FAMILIES WHO NEED A LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA HELP.

BECAUSE OF THOSE PARTNERSHIPS, WE HAVE DOLLAR THAT WE SPEND ON FOOD RETURNS $14 TO OUR CENTRAL INDIANA COMMUNITY.

SO LAST YEAR, WE SPENT 130,000 ON FOOD PURCHASED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE CONSISTENT PREDICTABLE ITEMS, LIKE FLOUR, SUGAR AND OIL, THOSE KIND OF PANTRY STAPLES ON THE SHELF.

WE ALSO -- A FACT I DON'T HAVE ON HERE: WE GO THROUGH ABOUT 130,000 DIAPERS EVERY SINGLE YEAR, SO ABOUT 10,000 DIAPERS A MONTH, AND THAT HELPS KEEP KIDS IN DAYCARE, PARENTS WORKING, SO THAT'S A HUGE RESOURCE THAT'S NOT COVERED BY ANY SORT OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS. AND THEN STITCHING IT ALL TOGETHER.

SO WE'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF OUR PROGRAMS. TRACY WAS A CARE CENTER FRIEND.

SHE FIRST CAME FOR FOOD. GOT CONNECTED DEEPER THROUGH THE CO-OP AND GRADUATED FROM THE CO-OP, AND SHE SAYS, AND I'LL QUOTE HERE DOGS SHE SAYS THAT SHE LEARNED HOW TO TAKE CONTROL OF HER FINANCES AND NO LONGER NEEDS ANY SERVICES.

SHE CONTINUED IS AND SAID, IT WAS NOT AN OVERNIGHT FIX, AND NO ONE GAVE UP ON ME. SO FOR HER ESPECIALLY, FOOD WAS THE ENTRY POINT. CHANGE WAS THE RESULT.

AND AT GRACE CARE CENTER, THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT.

OUR VISION IS TO END POVERTY, AND WE'RE DOING THAT ONE PERSON AT A TIME. IT'S SLOW.

BUT IT IS POSSIBLE, WHICH IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL.

SO I'M HAPPY TO ENTERTAIN ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE.

I'D LIKE TO INVITE ANY OF YOU FOR A TOUR.

I WOULD LOVE TO WALK THROUGH. IT'S PROBABLY MY FAVORITE THING TO TALK ABOUT. MY KIDS AND THE CARE CENTER...

I DON'T KNOW. I TALK ABOUT 'EM BOTH A LOT,

BUT, YEAH. >> THANKS VERY MUCH.

I THOUGHT YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME PICTURES OF THE RACKS AND -- I MEAN, THE -- IT'S JUST -- IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.

>> YEAH. >> YOU KNOW, THAT IS SO IMPRESSIVE, THE AMOUNT OF FOOD THAT IS UP ON, YOU KNOW, LIKE, A WAREHOUSE. LIKE, A REAL WAREHOUSE.

>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND THANK YOU, SHAI.

SO LAST NOVEMBER, WE DEDICATED OUR NEW WAREHOUSE SPACE, SO THERE WAS SOME OLD UNUSED CHURCH SPACE AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HELPED US WITH A GRANT TO TURN THAT INTO A PERMANENT WAREHOUSE SPACE. WE CAN WELCOME LARGE GROUPS THERE, AND, YES, WE HAVE RACKS TO THE CEILING THAT HELPS WITH MAKING SURE WE HAVE CONSISTENT FOOD.

WE HAVE WATER AND THINGS LIKE THAT FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE.

WE'VE BEEN HELPING A COUPLE OF COMMUNITIES NORTH OF NOBELSVILLE WITH THEIR FLOOD RESPONSE, AND SEVERAL YEAR AGO, THERE WAS A TORNADO THAT WENT THROUGH SULLIVAN, INDIANA AND WE HAD TO PAUSE. WE HAD TO COLLECT SUPPLIES.

WE HAD TO RAISE SOME MONEY TO GET THE MOBILE PANTRY OUT THERE, AND NOW THAT THAT RESPONSE SYSTEM IS A LITTLE MORE IMMEDIATE BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT WAREHOUSE SPACE, SO, THANK YOU,

[01:00:03]

SO THANK YOU. I'LL THROW A PICTURE IN THIS SLIDE DECK NEXT TIME, BUT THAT'S WHERE MY FAMILY STARTED VOLUNTEERING. WE STARTED COUNTING DONATED SCHOOL MILKS PROBABLY ABOUT 12 YEARS AGO, AND MY KIDS ARE GROWN AND OUT OF THE HOUSE, AND THEY'RE GIVING BACK IN THEIR WAY, WHICH IS REALLY COOL, BUT...

SO THANK YOU. >> THAT'S REALLY COOL.

CINDY? >> HI, CARA.

>> HI. >> MY UNDERSTANDING IN TALKING WITH YOU BEFORE IS THAT ANY HAMILTON COUNTY RESIDENT OR PERSON THAT IS EMPLOYED IN HAMILTON COUNTY CAN VISIT THE

FOOD PANTRY. >> YES.

>> DO YOU HAVE A BREAKDOWN IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF CARMEL

FOLKS THAT VISIT? >> I DID.

AND I PULLED THAT. ABOUT 15% OF OUR CARE CENTER FRIENDS -- THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR, SO THAT WAS QUARTER 2. 15% ARE FROM CARMEL ZIP CODES.

>> OKAY. >> AS I S SHAI'S NUMBER, THE NUMBER THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH.

IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S MUCH BIGGER NEED IN CARMEL THAN WHAT WE SEE WALK THROUGH OUR DOORS, AND AGAIN, THESE ARE FAMILIES THAT ARE NOT IN CHRONIC POVERTY OR PERSISTENT POVERTY.

THESE ARE FAMILIES WHO JUST THEIR INCOME DOES NOT MEET THEIR BUDGET. THESE ARE FAMILIES WHO ARE GOING THROUGH MAYBE A MARITAL SEPARATION AND TRYING TO BUILD SOME FAMILY STABILITY. THEY'RE NEW TO THE COUNTRY.

THERE'S SOME GENERATIONAL POVERTY THERE, TOO.

>> OKAY. >> KEVIN?

>> SO, HOW OFTEN CAN A CLIENT COME OR HOW OFTEN DO THEIR

POINTS RENEW? >> ONCE A WEEK.

ONCE A WEEK. WE DO HAVE ONLINE RESERVATIONS, SO FAMILIES CAN GRAB THOSE. LIKE YOU WOULD AN OPEN TABLE AT A RESTAURANT. SO IT ELIMINATES A LITTLE BIT OF THE WAIT. WE DO ACCEPT WALK-INS, AND IF WE TURN SOMEONE AWAY, IT'S BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH VOLUNTEERS.

IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE'VE RUN OUT OF FOOD.

AS YOU SAW IN THE VIDEO, WE ARE VERY INTENTIONAL WILL PAIRING UP VOLUNTEERS WITH OUR CARE CENTER FRIENDS TO GO THROUGH THE PANTRY. IT'S THAT RELATIONSHIPPAL POINT.

THAT IS THE REASON THEY WAKE UP, IS TO SHOW UP AT GRACE CARE CENTER, SO THAT IS VERY LIVING-GIVING AND PURPOSEFUL.

BUT IT HELPS OUR FAMILIES KEEP TRACK OF POINTS, AND IT'S ALSO, LIKE, A GREAT WAY TO BE, LIKE, HEY, SARA, HOW ARE THE KIDS? IS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE CAN HELP YOU THIS WEEK AND THAT'S HOW WE GET CONNECTED INTO THE NEXT PROGRAM, THE CO-OP.

YEAH. AND I'LL MENTION: WE ARE -- YOU KNOW, THE 300 VOLUNTEERS A WEEK.

WE ARE COMPLETELY VOLUNTEER-LED WHEN WE'RE OPEN.

SO WE'RE NOT STAFF-LED WHEN WE'RE OPEN, SO WE'VE EQUIPPED AND EMPOWERED OUR VOLUNTEERS TO DO THAT, AND ROUGH CALCULATION, THAT WAS ABOUT A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS IN MAN HOURS, JUST

THROUGH VOLUNTEERS LAST YEAR. >> JAY?

>> IF YOU WEREN'T VOLUNTEER CONSTRAINED, WOULD YOU -- OR YOU HAD AN ABUNDANCE OF VOLUNTEERS, WOULD YOU EXPAND YOUR HOURS?

>> WE'RE STUDYING THAT RIGHT NOW.

SO, RIGHT NOW, WE JUST LAUNCHED OUR VERY FIRST STRATEGIC PLAN, FIRST IN 14 YEARS, BUT BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE STUDYING THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE REALLY GREAT. SO OUR CHOICE FOOD PANTRY.

OUR CO-OP. OUR CORE PROGRAMS, AND FIGURING OUT WHERE WE CAN OPTIMIZE WITHIN YOUR CURRENT FRAMEWORK.

AND THEN WE'RE LOOKING AT PROGRAMS THAT MAYBE AREN'T AS EFFICIENT AND SAYING, OKAY, MAYBE WHERE CAN WE PARE THOSE DOWN AND ADD INTO THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE WORKING? AND I'M HOPEFUL THE FIRST HALF OF 2027 WE'LL BE ABLE TO EXPAND

IN SOME CAPACITY. >> SO, I COULD COME IN WITH A ONE-ON-ONE APPOINTMENT THROUGH YOUR OPEN TABLE APP.

>> YEAH. >> I COULD POTENTIALLY BE SERVICED BY YOUR MOBILE FOOD TRUCK.

WHAT BENEFIT COULD YOU SEE IF YOU HAD AN EXTERNAL FOOD LOCKER OUTSIDE OF YOUR NORMAL HOURS WHERE I COULD COME AND PICK UP

MY SUPPLIES? >> YOU WOULD GET FOOD.

YOU WOULD GET FOOD. YOU WOULD MISS THE RELATIONSHIP PIECE. AND THAT IS SO -- IT'S A CORE PIECE OF THE DNA OF GRACE CARE CENTER.

I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

IN FACT, WE HAD ANOTHER ORGANIZATION SAY, HEY, CAN YOU HELP US WITH OUR FEEDING TEAM BOX? HAPPY TO DO IT, AND I TALKED TO OUR DIRECTOR OF PANTRIES, AND WE WENT AND WE LOOKED AT IT. IT IS SO UNDIGNIFYING TO WALK -- I OPENED THEIR BOX, IN PARTICULAR.

THERE WERE THREE BAGS OF DRIED BEANS, THREE CANS OF WHOLE KERNEL CORN, AND SOME VARIOUS CANS OF BEANS.

WHEN YOU ARE FEELING LIKE YOU'RE HAVIN' A TOUGH DAY, YOUR DIGNITY

[01:05:01]

AND YOU'RE MISSING THAT CONNECTION TO HOW CAN WE HELP FIX WHAT'S UNDERNEATH THIS HUNGER RIGHT NOW? YOU'RE FEEDING PEOPLE FOR A MOMENT, BUT ARE YOU SOLVING THE HUNGER PROBLEM? SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE WOULD HAVE AN EXTERNAL FOOD LOCKER JUST BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE OF OUR VALUE SET. YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW. YEAH.

>> FAIR. >> WOULD YOU SAY THAT RELATIONAL CONNECTION ALLEVIATES THE STIGMA MIND GOING TO A FOOD PANTRY AND SEEKING THAT HELP? OR IT HAS ANOTHER DIMENSION THAT

HELPS WITH THE PROCESS? >> THE RELATIONAL PIECE DOES.

I THINK ALSO THE ENVIRONMENT THAT YOU WALK INTO.

THE CHOICE PANTRY IS BRIGHT. IT'S FRESH.

WE HAVE KIDS THAT GO THROUGH WITH THEIR PARENTS AND DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE AT THE FOOD PANTRY AT ALL.

THEY'RE AT THE MARKET. THEY'RE AT THE GROCERY.

THE GOAL IS, BY THE TIME SOMEONE LEAVES, THAT THEY'RE WELCOME BY NAMED MULTIPLE TIMES. THAT THEY'RE LOOKED AT IN THE EYE AND TOLD, YOU ARE VALUABLE, YOU ARE AN IMPORTANT PERSON.

WE ARE GRAD YOU'RE HERE. PEOPLE ARE COMING TO US IN THEIR WORST MOMENTS. WE WANT TO MAKE IT AS DIGNIFYING AS POSSIBLE AND AS HUMANIZING AS POSSIBLE.

THERE'S ALWAYS A PERSON BEHIND THE PROBLEM.

YES? >> COULD YOU SHARE MORE ABOUT THE MOBILE PANTRY AND HOW THAT OPERATES?

>> RIGHT NOW, WE PARTNER WITH OTHER CHURCHES AND ORGANIZATIONS. IT ACTUALLY -- THEY'LL RENT IT TO HAVE IT ON THEIR SPACE, SO WE'LL STOCK IT IT.

WE'LL GET IT OUT THERE. IT'S A 52-FOOT GOOSE NECK TRAILER. IT GOES INTO CHURCH PARKING LOTS, AND THEN IT'S MANNED BY THAT CHURCH'S CONGREGATION.

SO RIGHT NOW, NORTH VIEW FISHERS, THEY WILL PAY A CERTAIN AMOUNT PER QUARTER TO HAVE THAT ON THEIR LOT.

SO THEY ARE NOT CREATING PERMANENT SPACE.

THEY DON'T HAVE A PERMANENT LINE ITEM ON THEIR BUDGET.

THEY'RE NOT CREATING EXTRA STAFF AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO MAN A FOOD PANTRY. THE FOOD PANTRY COMES TO THEM, AND IT'S SERVING THE PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND GIVING THE CONGREGATION A VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY.

WAGNER, REECE, AND CARMEL HAD IT IN THEIR PARKING LOT TO SERVE THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THEN THEIR STAFF CAME IN AND VOLUNTEERED AND MANNED IT FOR A -- LIKE, A GIVEN DAY.

ELI LILLY HAS US BOOKED LATER IN THE MONTH.

IT'S JUST A SMALLER VERSION OF OUR CHOICE FOOD PANTRY.

YOU GO THROUGH WITH A CART. YOU SELECT YOUR ITEMS. YOU USE YOUR POINTS. WE HAVE A REFRIGERATOR IN THERE THAT PEOPLE CAN CHOOSE FROM, AND A FRESH FOOD SECTION, AND DIAPERS. WE ACCEPT APPOINTMENTS AND WALK-INS AS WELL, BUT APPOINTMENTS ARE AVAILABLE ON

THE WEBSITE. >> SO WE JUST HAD -- A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, I GUESS, WE HAD RALLY FOR RELIEF, WHICH WAS AN EVENT

THAT WE HAD OUT AT THE -- >> WAS IT NORTH VIEW?

OH, THE BIG ONE AT LUCAS, YES. >> SO, ALL THE FOOD THAT WE COLLECTED, DID ANY OF THAT END UP AT GRACE, OR HOW TO YOU -- WERE YOU INVOLVED IN THAT AT ALL?

>> I BELIEVE IT WENT TO HAMILTN COUNTY HARVEST FOOD BANK.

WE HAVE A LOVELY RELATIONSHIP WITH HAMILTON COUNTY HARVEST FOOD BANK, AND SUSANNA I AND WILL OFTEN GO TO THINGS TOGETHER. WE ARE NOT A PANTRY THAT RECEIVES FROM HARVEST FOOD BANK, BECAUSE WE ARE BIGGER THAN THEM, AND WE WOULD DECIMATE THEM AND THAT WOULD LEAVE THEM LESS FOR THE OTHER PANTRIES THAT THEY SERVE.

MANY PEOPLE DON'T KNOW, WE PURCHASE.

WE PURCHASE FOOD FROM GLEANERS. IT'S NOT GIVEN TO US.

>> OKAY. WELL, I DO BRING THAT UP ONLY BECAUSE IT WAS AN EFFORT THROUGH THE CITY OF CARMEL TO AID OUR FAMILIES THAT WERE AFFECTED BY THE FLOOD.

AND THE RESPONSE BY THE COMMUNITY WAS -- DID ANYONE HAPPEN TO GO THROUGH THAT AT ALL? THE RESPONSE FROM THE COMMUNITY WAS AMAZING.

>> IT WAS AMAZING, YEAH. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL TO SEE.

>> OKAY. >> DID HIS REALLY NICE TO SEE PEOPLE -- ANYTIME WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY, PEOPLE JUST SHOW UP.

IT'S REALLY PRETTY COOL. THANKS FOR LEADING THAT.

>> IT'S PRETTY NEAT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR CARA?

[01:10:02]

SO ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, THOUGH FOR -- REGARDING GRACE?

JAY? >> NO, BUT HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET

COPIES OF BOTH SETS OF SLIDES? >> YES.

>> FOR SURE. >> THAT WOULD BE GREAT, IF YOU COULD SEND IT TO SHEILA, AND I JUST WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR THE

WORK THAT YOU'RING TO. >> OH, THANK YOU.

>> YOU'RE A GREAT LEADER, BUT THAT ORGANIZATION IS JUST AMAZING, AND YOUR FAITH COMMUNITY AND OUR COMMUNITY

IS -- >> THANK YOU.

>> IS AMAZING. >> WELL, ANYWAY WAY THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO BE HELPFUL TO THE COALITION, TO CARMEL, PLEASE LET US KNOW. SOMETIMES THERE ARE NEEDS THAT WE COLLATERAL DON'T KNOW, AND VICE VERSA, AND I'D JUST LOVE TO

[5. Discussion ]

THANK YOU. >> OKAY, COMMISSIONERS.

WE'VE GOT JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES, BUT IS THERE ANY OTHER BUSINESS OR ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO DISCUSS, OTHER THAN WHAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY GOT PLANNED OUT?

CINDY? >> JUST IN TERMS OF THE GRANT.

MAYBE AMANDA COULD GIVE US AN UPDATE IN TERMS OF WHEN WE WILL HEAR ABOUT WHETHER WE WILL RECEIVE THE GRANT?

>> SURE. THANKS, CINDY.

SO, THE APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED ON AUGUST 20TH, AND WE WILL HEAR SOMETIME IN NOVEMBER.

THERE WASN'T ANY KIND OF INDICATION IF IT WOULD BE EARLY OR LATER IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER, BUT HOPEFULLY WE HEAR

SOMETHING SOON ABOUT THAT. >> GREAT.

MAYBE BY OUR MEETING. WHO MOWS.

THANK YOU, AMANDA. OKAY.

WELL

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.