West side church opens new food pantry

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A church on the city’s west side launched a new food pantry Saturday to help fight food insecurity.

The church “Jesus Christ is My Refuge” celebrated the launch of their new pantry with song, dance, and a meal. Church leaders say people have been training for months to help launch the pantry and this celebration honors their graduation and hard work. Leaders say a resource like this is vital in an area considered a food desert. But along with feeding families they want uplift those they serve.

One-in-six people in central Indiana battle food insecurity, according to second helpings. More than 70% of the food banks working to help them are run by churches like this one.