What Matters at Westmin

Written by Becky Doemland, Board Chair | Westminster Neighborhood Services

Day in and day out, we’re confronted with statistics about one thing or another, aren’t we? Whether you’re watching the news or scrolling through social media, there are numbers and rankings being shared about every topic under the sun. We live in a culture of measurement and comparison, where it’s easy to become desensitized about the impact behind all these stats. But I really hope this fact will resonate with you:

100% of Westminster’s Near-Eastside neighbors live in a food desert.

What is a food desert? It’s a geographic area with limited access to supermarkets or grocery stores offering fresh produce and healthy food options. The U.S. government recognizes more than 6,000 food deserts nationwide, where residents live more than one mile from a grocery store and transportation options are limited. Food deserts are most commonly found in low-income areas experiencing a lack of investment in grocery stores or in rural areas with sparsely populated communities.

Living in a food desert has multiple and ongoing effects on our Near-Eastside neighbors. Without reliable access to fresh fruits and vegetables, people of all ages experience dietary deficiencies and health problems like obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Neighbors frequently resort to fast food or processed foods, which are readily available from nearby convenience stores but lacking in nutritional value. A lifestyle like this can lead to a cycle of poor health outcomes affecting generations of Indianapolis residents. ?

An Oasis in the Desert

Westminster’s service area includes individuals and families living within an area bordered by I65 to the west, I70 to the north and Emerson Avenue to the east.

From Westminster’s location at the corner of New York Street and Keystone, the nearest popular grocery store is Kroger in the Twin Aire shopping center, 1.6 miles away. If you’re fortunate to have a vehicle, you can drive there in five minutes. Otherwise, it’s a 31-minute walk followed by another 31-minute walk back—carrying bags of groceries – and even longer for neighbors living in the northern part of Westminster’s service area.

We’re talking about hardship, and for many of our neighbors, access to fresh, nutritious food is just one of numerous hardships they face daily. And that’s why Westminster matters so much for neighbors living in Indy’s Near Eastside.

Serving Up Food and More

As a nonprofit community-serving organization, Westminster has been providing vital food programs in Indianapolis for more than 40 years.

• Food pantry. Westminster’s food pantry is one of the largest and longest-running pantries in the metro area. Three times each week, the pantry is open to neighbors, offering fresh produce and healthy staples. Neighbors can visit twice monthly. An additional distribution day is offered every month for seniors 55+ living anywhere within Marion County.
• Mobile food pantry. During spring, summer and fall, Westminster hosts mobile food distributions at various locations on the Near Eastside, providing non-perishable items, bread, meat, produce and sandwiches for neighbors in need.
• Soup kitchen. Westminster provides a hot, nutritious meal to over 1,000 individuals each month in a friendly atmosphere with no eligibility requirements. All meals are provided by Second Helpings and paired with food offerings from Kroger, Whole Foods, Aldi and many others.
• Health fairs and partnerships. Westminster partners with community organizations throughout Central Indiana who bring their expertise to our location, meeting with neighbors in a convenient spot to provide health programs, nutrition education and additional services.

The demand for help is undeniable and growing: Year-to-date in 2024, Westminster has provided food support for 5,100 individuals living in 1,500 households, representing a 15% increase over last year. Westminster is a critical food provider in Indianapolis and a valued neighborhood resource.

We Need Your Help

Westminster’s food programs are fueled by three things: Food donation partnerships, volunteers, and money. We need all three, but we especially need funding. Financial support enables us to supplement food offerings when needed, ensuring that our pantry is stocked with each food group and that the food storage and distribution facility meets safe food-handling guidelines.

Do you and your family have access to fresh, nutritious food? And do you have reliable transportation to and from your neighborhood grocery? If yes, would you make a donation to fight food insecurity and help those who aren’t so fortunate?

Giving is easy: Go to www.westmin.org/donate to make an online donation and learn more about supporting Westminster Neighborhood Services.

Thank you for recognizing the need in our community and supporting Westminster in their mission to help others.