Healthy Food for All
Nutritious food helps prevent many serious diseases like heart disease, stroke, diabetes and mental health problems, but in Marion County alone more than 128,000 people are food insecure, meaning they face significant barriers - such as income, location or transportation – to being able to access healthy foods. We’re tackling that problem with numerous programs.
Do you want to be part of the solution?
Community partnerships and financial support enable us to address the significant nutrition insecurity in Central Indiana. We know food is medicine, which is why we equip health care providers with effective screening tools and food vouchers through produce prescription programs. Screened patients gain access to healthy foods and are connected with government food assistance programs for longer term support.
In 2021, our Central Indiana board of directors determined that addressing nutrition insecurity should be one of our top three priorities locally to help people live longer, healthier lives.
Growing evidence shows that people who regularly eat healthy foods are often able to manage chronic health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity with fewer medications.
Some of our local work includes:
- Food insecurity screenings
- Health Care by Food initiatives at local health centers
- Working with sponsors to supply fresh produce to food pantries
Our biggest effort to combat nutrition insecurity came in 2023 when we secured a $1 million grant from the Indiana University Health Foundation to open a Nutrition Hub in the 46202 Zip code.
Working with Gleaner’s Food Bank of Indiana, IU Health and Purdue Center for Innovation & Health Equity we:
- Developed a customized app for ordering food
- Provided 50 lbs of fresh food each week in refrigerated food lockers located on a major bus line
- Provided resources and health counseling through a community health worker
Through mid-2025, more than 330 individuals had been referred to the program just from the 46202 zip code.
Learn more about the impact of the Nutrition Hub via these testimonials:
Meka Christian, American Heart Association community impact director
Kelly W, neighbor
Lynne D, neighbor
Nutrition security video from 2023