As uncertainty around SNAP payments builds, school districts across Indianapolis are connecting families with resources.
Mirror Indy checked in with each of Marion County’s 11 school districts. Here’s how districts are responding. We’ll add more information as schools respond to our requests. You can find more community resources here.
Beech Grove
Beech Grove Community Schools offers a food pantry to families in its district.
The food pantry is available 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of the month at Beech Grove Middle School, 1248 Buffalo St. No ID or proof of income is required.
More information is available on the Beech Grove district website.
Decatur Township
Decatur Central High School partners with Gleaners food bank to put on a weekly drive-thru, pick-up option for dry and fresh food products.
The food pantry is open to any family with children in Decatur Township schools from 11-11:50 a.m. Fridays at Door 10 of Decatur Central High School, 5251 Kentucky Ave. Families are asked to fill out an online intake form each distribution date they plan to attend.
The district also partners with the George T. Goodwin Community Center, 3935 W. Mooresville Road, which offers a Client Choice Food Pantry every other Monday. The next distribution date is noon to 2 p.m. and 4-6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17.
Indianapolis Public Schools
Several IPS schools operate food pantries for families of students attending those buildings. IPS pantries include:
- Brookside School 54: 7:30-10 a.m. every third Friday, 3150 E. 10th St. (Brookside also offers community-wide assistance from 10-11 a.m. every second Saturday of the month.)
- Daniel Webster School 46: 9 a.m. to noon, twice a month, 1450 S. Reisner St., call 317-226-4246 for more information.
- Eleanor Skillen School 34: 2:30-3:30 p.m. every third Thursday, 1410 Wade St.
- H.L. Harshman Middle School: Nov. 5, Nov. 19, Dec. 3 and Dec. 17, 1501 E. 10th St. All of these dates are open to the community — however, there may be some restrictions on who is eligible to receive aid. Call 317-226-4101 for more information.
- James Russell Lowell School 51: Every second and fourth Thursday, 3426 Roosevelt Ave., call 317-226-4251 for more information.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson School 58: 321 N. Linwood Ave., call 317-226-4258 for more information.
- Rousseau McClellan School 91: 5111 Evanston Ave., call 317-226-4291 for more information.
Families of students attending Carl Wilde School 79 can text @79freefood to 81010 for assistance.
IPS officials have shared this information and more on a district website. They expect to share new locations in the future, so be sure to check back with the website for updates.
Lawrence Township
Many schools within Lawrence Township have their own site-based food pantries, spokesperson Dana Altemeyer said in an email.
The district also partners with The Sharing Place, a volunteer-run pantry operated by Lutheran Child & Family Services and located in the district’s former administrative offices at 6501 Sunnyside Road.
Lawrence Township families are also encouraged to contact their school’s Community in Schools liaison or the Office of Student Services for additional assistance. Contact information for each school is available on the district’s website.
Perry Township
Perry Township schools offer a weekly community food pantry but, Chalkbeat reported this week, it’s nearing capacity as demand grows.
The pantry is open 3-6 p.m. every Thursday at the Perry Township Academic Center, 2115 E. Southport Road. More information is available on the Perry Township district website.
Pike Township
Pike Township operates the Red Zone Food Pantry to serve families in the Pike community.
The pantry is open from 4-6 p.m. twice a month on Mondays at the Pike Freshman Center, 6801 Zionsville Road. The next distribution date is Nov. 17.
Additional dates through the end of the 2025-2026 school year are available on the district’s website.
Families of Pike students are also encouraged to call the social worker at their child’s school. Contact information can be found in the district’s latest email newsletter.
Warren Township
The Warren Township Council of PTAs organizes a twice monthly food, clothing and toiletry pantry.
The Sonny Day pantry will be open just once a month in November and December due to holiday breaks. Upcoming dates include 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, and 9-11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Moorhead Community Resource Center, 8400 E. 10th St.
The pantry is open to everyone regardless of whether they have a student attending a Warren Township school. Follow the Sonny Day Warren Township page on Facebook for additional distribution dates and community resources.
Warren Township administrators also encourage families with students in district schools to reach out to their building’s Family Engagement liaison for additional resources.
Contact information for each school is available on the Warren Township website. Families can also reach out to the district at MSDWarrenoutreach@warren.k12.in.us.
Washington Township
Washington Township schools have shared a list of community resources and citywide food events under the Announcements section of the district’s website.
The district is also encouraging families to reach out to the social worker placed in their child’s school for additional assistance. A list of school-specific and community resources are available on the district’s website.
Wayne Township
Wayne Township is directing families to several community resources, including the Wayne Township Trustee’s food assistance programs, Gleaners food bank, and Community Compass.
Several of Wayne Township’s schools offer small food pantries and blessing boxes. Families can call their child’s school and request to speak with a parent liaison for personalized support. School phone numbers are available on Wayne Township’s website.
Wayne Township is also raising money for its annual Ben Davis Thanksgiving Food Drive, which supported nearly 500 families last year. The district is accepting monetary donations here.
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Mirror Indy reporter Carley Lanich covers early childhood and K-12 education. Contact her at carley.lanich@mirrorindy.org or follow her on X @carleylanich.
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