Get A Fresh Start From The Food Pantry

Among the biggest concerns for families struggling economically is food insecurity, or not having access to reliable sources of food during the past year. Because hunger and lack of nutritious foods are linked to chronic disease, Franciscan Health is working to bring healthy foods to those families.

Research shows that 34 million people in the United States face food insecurity, and numbers increased after the pandemic for families with children and communities of color. In 2022, there have been 49 million people that have reached out to food programs for assistance, as many families are unqualified for federal nutrition programs.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, four in 10 children in Indiana are eligible for free and reduced lunch.

With nutritional program qualification difficulties and because hunger is linked to chronic disease, Franciscan Health is working to bring healthy foods to these families in need.

Lacking constant access to food is related to negative health outcomes such as weight-gain and premature mortality. It is important to have adequate access to a constant food supply, but it may be equally important to have nutritious food available.

Food Insecurity And Chronic Disease

The phrase “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” is nothing to be taken lightly. The growing concern of food insecurity across the United States follows chronic disease concerns.

Recent studies showed that adults over 50 facing food insecurity also had higher liver stiffness measurements and risk of advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis. Additional studies showed that chronic conditions were 18% higher among adults in food-insecure families compared to food-secure families. The higher chance of chronic diseases in the study included:

• Hepatitis
• Stroke
• Cancer
• Asthma
• COPD
• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Arthritis
• Hypertension
• Coronary heart disease
• Hepatitis

Even though these studies revolved around adults, research shows that children can also be impacted by these conditions alongside the potential to develop anxiety and depression.

A Familiar And Accessible Fresh Start To Fresh Food

An accessible and familiar food pantry system can help families in need confidently access food and maintain good health across the community.

Franciscan’s Fresh Start Market near the Indianapolis campus helps families in need throughout Marion and Johnson counties and offers a reliable source to shop and pick out healthy foods. Other locations are in northwest Indiana, serving Crown Point, Hammond and Michigan City.

“Fresh Start Markets are all about creating a dignified space where families shop for and select free, quality, perishable and non-perishable goods, similar to if they were shopping at a grocery store or a farmers market,” said Danielle Crowder, director of Community Health Improvement. “This experience encourages self-sufficiency and behavior change for positive health outcomes.”

These Fresh Start Markets are functioning with the help of dedicated volunteers, many of them Franciscan employees. The markets are also funded through grants, charitable gifts and partnerships with the Franciscan Health Foundation.

These partnerships include:

• Feeding America
• The Northwest Indiana Food Bank (for the Crown Point and Hammond locations)
• Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana

Find A Fresh Start Market Location That Works Best For You

Having the Fresh Start Markets in more accessible locations is essential for nearby communities facing food insecurity.

“We believe the Fresh Start Market approach works because it stresses accessibility and cultural dietary preferences,” Crowder said. “Like in Indianapolis, Burmese patrons can select from foods they are familiar with. The Fresh Start Markets in Northwest Indiana offer choices consistent with Hispanic cuisine. Selecting from healthy foods that our clients know and love is a winning recipe.”

Franciscan Health Fresh Start Market are located in:

• Crown Point: The Fresh Start Market at 1121 S. Indiana Ave. in Crown Point is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month and noon to 4 p.m. the third Tuesday of the month.
• Greenwood/south Indianapolis: The Fresh Start Market is open on the first and third Thursdays of the month from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Franciscan Health Sierra Building, 1040 Sierra Dr., Greenwood, Ind. It is also open for employees on the second Wednesday of every month from 3 to 6 p.m.
• Hammond: The Fresh Start Market at 5314 Hohman Ave. in Hammond is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month and noon to 4 p.m. the fourth Wednesday of the month.
• Michigan City: The Fresh Start Market at 301 West Homer Street in Michigan City is open on the first Wednesday of every month to Franciscan Health employees and patients from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is also open on the third Wednesday of every month is open to the broader community from noon to 4 p.m.