In their 2023 Hunger Study, Indy Hunger Network found that hunger is at its highest level in the last ten years.

We feel that growth in our Hunger Relief kitchen, where we broke a monthly meal production record in 11 of 12 months in our 2023-2024 fiscal year. We delivered 120,000 more meals than last year, a 9% increase in production.

As we continue to grow, so does our need for resources. We need your support to keep meeting our community’s growing need for healthy, homestyle meals this winter.

Your gift sustains people all across central Indiana. Thanks to you, they know where their next meal is coming from. Your act of giving can fill empty plates and ensure no one goes to bed hungry.

Your gift allows us to deliver 500 meals a week to Fathers & Families, where adults like Keil receive employment training, parenting classes, and opportunities to earn a High School Equivalency diploma.

We recently visited Fathers & Families, where we deliver 500 meals every week. There, we met Keil, who graduated from their Strong Fathers program and is now in their High School Equivalency diploma class.

Keil told us that Second Helpings’ meals “help more than just filling your belly.

“Because we receive free meals during the program, I don’t have to worry about feeding myself. That frees up money to pay for the bus or to save up to share with my kids.

“I had classmates who were unhoused, who didn’t have somewhere to go after class, or who haven’t had a hot meal in who knows how long. So the Second Helpings meals we received were the only meals some people had that day.”

Keil first connected with Fathers & Families to work on earning his GED and enrolled in their foundational Strong Fathers program first. “It’s only a three-week program, so I didn’t think I’d actually change. But I found myself wanting to share more. That program gave all of us men a safe space to be ourselves and grow.”

Keil felt limited by the opportunities he could access without a GED and with a criminal record. Still, he’s worked hard to support his four kids and stay sober for the last three years.

“This program gave me a voice again. If you have a voice, you feel important. And once you feel important, you take pride in what you do.”

Receiving meals as part of the program, Keil said, “It feels good to know people care about you, and it tastes like your mom made it for you. Y’all are the gift that keeps on giving!”

Every $1.71 you donate to Second Helpings provides a nutritious meal to a neighbor in need at one of our 100+ partner organizations.

Second Helpings meals were part of Keil’s holistic experience with Fathers & Families, where he was surrounded by support that taught him that he could achieve his goals. “Life is easy if we all pitch in.”

Take Keil’s advice – pitch in to provide more meals for more neighbors this winter. For less than the cost of a gallon of milk or carton of eggs, you can provide a meal for a neighbor facing food insecurity.

As the demand for Second Helpings’ meals grows, your support is critical to our operations. Will you consider a donation this winter? Remember, every donation, no matter the amount, will help us rescue more food, train more students, and serve more hungry people in our community.

This year of growth was not possible without our community of supporters. But we don’t see that growth slowing down any time soon, as both requests for meals and interest in our Culinary Job Training program continue to rise.

We can’t meet these community needs without your support. Will you make a gift to fight hunger and create opportunities today?

On behalf of Second Helpings’ Board of Directors and staff, thank you for your support. We are grateful for your commitment to our community.