‘We’re behind the curve’: Indianapolis community gardens struggle to feed food insecure during pandemic
“During this pandemic, we understand people rely on different sources to eat when they don’t have a car or are elderly or disabled,” he said. “It’s not easy to get fresh food, especially during a time like this.” Grace Hollars/IndyStar
By Sarah Bowman
Indianapolis Star
July 7, 2020
Excerpt:
Sharrona Moore makes a promise every year: to donate half of what her garden grows.
But it’s not really her garden, it’s the community’s garden.
Moore is the founder and main steward of the Lawrence Community Garden. And much of the produce she grows on its seven acres goes to food pantries and meal services for senior citizens. Some is sold at a local farmers market and a stand at the site.
Many in the neighborhood — an area known as a food desert — rely on the Far Eastside garden for fresh fruits and vegetables, Moore said.
This year, however, she won’t have as much.
In a time when the coronavirus pandemic has caused grocery store shortages, exposed the vulnerability of the nation’s food system, and sent the food insecure population across the country skyrocketing — the importance of community gardens and local food sources has become all the more apparent, Moore said.
