By MARK HALL
Feeding Team Feature
This month’s column is a call back story from a neighbor from over a year ago.
We’ve been doing food charity service work for over 16 years in inner-city Indianapolis with Shepherd Community Center before launching Feeding Team a few years ago. Over the years serving neighbors in Hamilton County, we never encountered a story or situation quite like K.L. If you follow us on social media, you may have seen this story updated just last week as she publicly reached out to us regarding her story.
In January 2021, we heard from K.L. She was one-half of a local couple living in their car and in need of food. During that January here in Hamilton County, we were in the very throes of a subzero cold snap. This neighbor wrote, “We are hungry and in desperate need of food. We are living in our car; please can you help us?”
This is the story of a young Hamilton County couple and now a story of redemption. We were able to connect these neighbors to several of the pantries as well as additional resources here in Hamilton County. Back then, we received word that the young couple found food, shelter and were able to get through the toughest of times.
What makes K.L.’s story so unique is that last week – 14 months later – she read her very own story online. She wrote us to let us know how grateful she was that she’s not in that position anymore and how thankful she is that the pantries were available to provide meals when she most needed them. Hers is a story of redemption and recovery that she credits to the community. She is grateful for Feeding Team and your ability to sustain her in a tough difficult situation.
It is rewarding to be a small part of a neighbor’s life. Your donations, along with funding from corporate partners, makes small miracles like K.L.’s possible. Without the dedicated efforts of so many volunteers, donors, and friends of Feeding Team, this would not be happening all over Hamilton County every week.
With over 27,000 food-challenged neighbors in Hamilton County, FeedingTeam.org provides outdoor 24/7/365 no-questions-asked free food pantries throughout Hamilton County.
Neighbors ask, “Why do this? What’s in it for you?” The answer is always the same: Serving people feeds my soul. It is a calling, not work.
When criticized or questioned, I encourage people to learn my story before assuming anything. There were many suppers when we as a young couple with young kids could only afford Dinty Moore beef stew and a potato for dinner. Surreal moment. This is why the pantries exist. As a typical young family, we could not always make ends meet.
Thank you for embracing the pantries. We love serving with so many neighbors across Hamilton County.
In future columns we will share more stories from neighbors about how your generosity served them in times of need. Be assured that the face of hunger in Hamilton County is not what you may think.
In practical terms, this straightforward way to help neighbors is having real impact on lives, families, and our communities. Thank you. A few meals can change the course of a person’s life. A can of green beans means so much more when you have nothing to feed your kids. Would you like to get involved? We are in the process of evaluating our next 10 pantry locations. If you think you have a potential location, please contact us.
Mark and Lisa Hall are the Founders of Feeding Team. They may be reached at lisa@feedingteam.org and mark@feedingteam.org or by calling (317) 832-1104.