Taking part in a discussion on food pantry tips are from left: Purdue Extension Community Wellness Coordinator for Fulton and Miami Counties Mindy Duckett, Matthew’s Market of Rochester’s Robin Burkett and Community Services of Starke County’s Cindy Benke and Jimmie Howard. The discussion was held Thursday, Oct. 12, at The Times Theater in Rochester as part of the Northern Indiana Community Foundation’s Food Pantry Summit.

Text and Photos
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

ROCHESTER — About 15% of Hoosier kids battle food insecurity.

That was one of the statistics raised in the recent documentary “The Working Hungry.”

Community members viewed the film on Thursday, Oct. 12, as part of the Northern Indiana Community Foundation’s annual Food Pantry Summit at The Times Theater in Rochester.

Leaders of food pantries in the foundation’s three counties served, Fulton, Miami and Starke Counties, were present.

The documentary tells the stories of three Indiana families. It showed how health issues and rising costs have affected families who have had to seek out food assistance while working.

“The Working Hungry” argues for employers to pay their employees more to help solve the food issue, advocating for at least an $18 hourly wage. People may view the full documentary by going to indyhunger.org/workinghungry.

After the film was screened, Bread for the World Indiana state organizer Grace Kozak led audience discussion on it. Bread for the World is a national Christian organization which advocates for legislation to combat hunger.

Purdue Extension Community Wellness Coordinator Mindy Duckett, who works in Fulton and Miami Counties, said she noted that something which stood out to her from the film was “the lack of a support system” for families.

“A lot of times people have either burnt bridges with family, they don’t live near them or they’re just not reliable and being able to be there,” said Duckett.

She noted the support system is needed to help watch kids if they’re sick and their parents need to work.

United We Stand Ministries of Akron’s Bonnie Dunbar noted she observed how the process of a man in the film applying for assistance online was difficult.

“I’ve got clients that can’t even read, let alone work a computer,” she said.

She noted some of the paperwork is lengthy, and there isn’t standardized assistance paperwork among the various town trustees United We Stand works with.

Matthew’s Market of Rochester’s Robin Burkett said something she saw from the film and observed personally locally is “the grandparent population that now is raising their grandchildren.”

“It’s daunting enough to those who are in the aging process and everything that they deal with as they get older … let alone the fact that some of them were thinking ‘Now I’m going to retire and enjoy life,’ but then all of sudden they’re back to raising kids that are babies and up and they don’t know what to do if they’re on limited incomes,” she said.

Following the discussion, Duckett and Burkett and Community Services of Starke County’s Cindy Benke and Jimmie Howard spoke during a panel discussion on “Food Pantry Hints & Tips.”

Before the film was shown, people could hear a panel discussion on housing needs in the community, with Fulton County Community Foundation Director of Development Brian Johnson mentioning that was held because the issue is linked to food insecurity.

Bread for the World Indiana state organizer Grace Kozak leads discussion following a screening of the documentary “The Working Hungry” at the summit.