Tackling food insecurity in Putnam County

What does food insecurity mean for Putnam County?

Putnam County alone has nine food pantries, one non-food pantry and two mobile pantry sites. There are a total of 4,490 residents who deal with food insecurity issues. These residents lack reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. And 45 percent of these individuals don’t qualify for nutrition programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Application Program) or WIC (Women, Infants and Children).

Local food pantries help fill the needs not being met by the federal programs.

That is why the Putnam County Junior Leaders have partnered with the Indiana 4-H Foundation grant to do the “Indiana 4-H Takes a Bite Out of Hunger” campaign. They are hoping to partner with Mindy Duckett (NEP community wellness coordinator for Hendricks, Putnam and Parke counties) who submitted a proposal to the Indiana State Fair for the FAIRs Care program. The program provides state fair tickets to those who donate non-perishable food items to the food pantries of Putnam County or during a specified time at the county fair.

Junior Leaders will also be working with Jennifer Cannon (HHS educator) to create educational programs that will increase the community’s awareness of food insecurity issues in Putnam County.

The Junior Leaders are also planning to hand out vouchers to exchange for food at the Junior Leader stand located in the Putnam County Farm Bureau Indoor Arena during the fair. Vouchers can be obtained by donating three or more non-perishable food items to the Purdue Extension Putnam County office or at the 5K run on June 9 hosted by the Putnam County Fair Board to kick off the county fair. The run/walk will occur at the Putnam County Fairgrounds starting at 8 a.m.

As every project should, there are some goals that the Junior Leaders will drive to achieve. The main goal is to raise the community’s awareness of food insecurity, and all the issues that are happening every day in Putnam County. They hope to do this by reaching out through staged events to educate the public on the topic. Some other goals, are to partner up with the local food pantries and the local food pantry coalition to provide support and opportunities to tell their story, and to open the eyes of the 4-H youth to the local concerns with hunger.

You are probably wondering how you can help fight for this noble cause. There are many ways actually. In review, you can donate non-perishable food items at the Extension office or at the 5K run that kicks off the fair. It is actually a win-win situation, because in turn, you will receive a food voucher that can be redeemed at the Junior Leaders Stand during the fair.

You can also donate and/or volunteer at your local food pantry. All skills and gifts are needed.

Visit www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or contact the local Purdue Extension Office by calling 653-8411 for more information regarding this week’s column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee.

Upcoming events

June 5 – Fine Arts 4-H workshop, 5:30-6:30 p.m., Extension Office.

June 5 – Public Speaking/Demonstration 4-H workshop, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Extension Office.

June 7 – Sewing 4-H workshop, 6 p.m., Extension Office.

June 9 – FAIR Runner 5k Run Walk, 8 a.m., Fairgrounds.

June 14 – Electricity 4-H Workshop, 9 a.m. – noon, Harris Hall Fairgrounds.

June 14 – Woodworking 4-H Workshop, 6-8 p.m., Steve Lien Shop.

June 18 – Poster Making 4-H Workshop, 6-8 p.m., Harris Hall Fairgrounds.

June 20 – YQCA cert program, Fairgrounds, 10 a.m., RSVP online.

June 20 – YQCA cert program, Fairgrounds, 1 p.m., RSVP online.

June 27 – Fashion Revue/Modeling 4-H workshop, 6-7 p.m., York Automotive Building Fairgrounds.

June 27 – Fine Arts 4-H workshop, 9-10 a.m., Extension Office.

June 27 – Public Speaking/Demonstration 4-H workshop, 10-11 a.m., Extension Office.

Aug. 15 – My Record of Achievement 4-H Workshop, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Extension Office.