There’s a reason Shepherd Community started with a meal. Food builds connection. Food is an equalizer. Memories are often made around a table over a shared meal. Food is a basic need for everyone. But our Shepherd neighbors live in a food desert, where access to affordable and healthy food is limited.
Since the beginning of Shepherd, food has been an essential part of what we do. In 1988, Shepherd first began serving our neighbors through a Food Pantry. Over the last 40 years, Shepherd has served our neighbors’ hunger and food access needs through a variety of programs & services:
- Food Pantry
- Food Co-Op
- Chicken Coop
- Honeybee Farm
- Teaching Kitchen
- On-Site Garden
- Greenhouse
- Shepherd kitchen
- Community Meals
- Cooking Classes
- Neighborhood Deliveries
- Door Gardens
- Holiday Totes
- Weekend Take-Home Bags
- Partnerships with Gleaners, Hatch, USDA, Fair Oaks Farms, Indiana Grown, and more!
Food is an immediate need and a way to build relationships and come alongside our neighbors to address the deeper challenges in each of their lives. Take a seat at Shepherd’s table to discover how we support our local students every day:
According to the USDA, 8 out of 10 kids do not have two meals a day when they are out of school, and 6 out of 10 senior adults struggle with the reality of hunger in our neighborhood. The most vulnerable among us are going hungry.
At Shepherd, we are breaking the cycle of poverty by ensuring our neighbors have futures with full bellies and food-security for the next 40 years. With the support of our generous partners, we can continue to bring hope and provide for our community.
