Ending Hunger in America, 2014 Hunger Report Full Report | Page 132

that it is: those who need SNAP have been made to feel ashamed of “taking government
assistance.” The anonymity of using a SNAP debit card helps them feel less embarrassed, but
it also makes the program’s contributions to the community much less visible.
Indianapolis has set a goal of ensuring that by 2015, anyone who is hungry will be able
to get the nutritious food they need.8 The role of IHN is to
provide a space for all the parts of the anti-hunger infrastruc“Research shows
ture in the city to come together and solve problems. In a
that 42 percent of the
city the size of Indianapolis, any social infrastructure will be
food-insecure people
fragmented—not by intent, but by sheer numbers and logisin the Indianapolis
tics. Churches may be talking to other churches, but they may
region have incomes
not be coordinating with groups outside their neighborhood.
too high to be eligible
The heads of key government offices like the Departments of
for federal nutrition
Education and Health and Human Services may not know
anybody on the volunteer side. People who know programs
programs.”
for seniors may not know those for children and vice versa.
The pie chart has galvanized support for the contributions that SNAP, WIC, school
meals, and other federal nutrition programs will make to achieving the “hunger-free” goal.
Being able to look at the pie chart also makes it easier for people who might not be inclined
to pick up the phone to call their member of Congress or visit the member’s local office to
advocate for the program—and to persuade their friends and family to do so as well.

BOX 4.1

HOOSIER HEROES
Dave Miner, executive director of the Indy Hunger Network, and his wife Robin have been anti-hunger activists for
more than 30 years. From 2007 to 2012, Dave chaired Bread for the World’s board of dir X???[??H?]\?Y?Y?\?H?\?Y\??]H\?XX?]]X?[?X[?[H[K??\??[???Y[??K[?[?X[?Y?[Y[?????H\?\?[?H??[?HX\??Y?\?H?\?Y\?[?XY\??\??][??][H[?]?Y??[X]H??\[?H[[???\?\??YX\???Y???X?H?Z[?[????Y?[????[Y[??]??XY??H???[[?X[?\?\??X??YHH[??\?Y??YH??[][?]K???[?\?H??\??Y[X?\?][?H[??\??]???\Z[??H?\?Y\??&\???^\?Y[??H[???\]\???Y[??H[?[??[?Y\?[???H?]\?H?[?[??[??\??]?H[????[???[?YH?XYZ\???[??XY??H???]\?H[^?X?]?????XY??H????\\?[?[?X[?\?\??]?H[???[?Z[?\??[?X[?\?\?S????L??? ??\\?
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