With campuses across Indiana now closed for the remainder of the school year, districts and community organizations are working to get food to thousands of students who rely on school meals.
More than 100,000 Indianapolis students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, and all students in Indianapolis Public Schools receive free meals because the district qualifies for a federal community eligibility program. With more businesses shuttering to fight the spread of the new coronavirus, the U.S. is seeing record unemployment claims, and more families are likely struggling to afford groceries.
School districts and food banks are stepping in to help families find food during the crisis. Indianapolis Public Schools is handing out free meals at 16 sites five days a week to any children 18 or under, even if they don’t attend district schools. The state’s largest district is also partnering with Gleaners Food Bank to distribute 17-pound boxes of food to families at two dozen sites.
In addition to distributing meals at several schools, Wayne Township is delivering meals to more than 1,000 bus stops. In many other township districts, families can pick up packages with several days’ worth of meals. Indy Parks is offering meals at many locations, including several that also have meals for adults in partnership with Second Helpings.
Marion County families can find food through the Community Compass app or by texting the word “hi” to 317-434-3758.
The map below shows Indianapolis food distribution sites.
If you click the map, you can enter your address and find the site closest to you. We also compiled the dates and times of food service. We will continue to update as more information becomes available.
If your school district pickup site or community agency isn’t on the map, please send the information to us at in.tips@chalkbeat.org.
Instructions (Desktop)
- Open the map and click the Search button.
- Search for your address to find nearby meal distribution sites. Schedules for breakfast and lunch pickups vary by site.
- Select the meal distribution site and click the Direction button.
- Find the directions to the meal distribution sites on Google Maps.
Instructions (Mobile)
I don't have Google Drive and Google Maps installed on my device
- Open the map and scroll to your neighborhood.
- Find and select the meal distribution site to view the schedule for breakfast and lunch.
- Tap the direction buttons to go to Google Maps.
I have both Google Drive and Google Maps installed on my device
- Open the map and tap the Search bar.
- Search for your address to find nearby meal distribution sites.
- Tap the name of the meal distribution site to view the schedule for breakfast and lunch. Tap the direction buttons to go to Google Maps.
Here’s where Indianapolis children can get meals during the three-week school shutdown for coronavirus
Schedules for breakfast and lunch pickups vary. If your school or community agency isn’t on the map, please send the information to us at meals@chalkbeat.org. Open the address sheet document here.
Instructions (Desktop)
- Open the map and click the Search button.
- Search for your address to find nearby meal distribution sites. Schedules for breakfast and lunch pickups vary by site.
- Select the meal distribution site and click the Direction button.
- Find the directions to the meal distribution sites on Google Maps.
Instructions (Mobile)
I don't have Google Drive and Google Maps installed on my device
- Open the map and scroll to your neighborhood.
- Find and select the meal distribution site to view the schedule for breakfast and lunch.
- Tap the direction buttons to go to Google Maps.
I have both Google Drive and Google Maps installed on my device
- Open the map and tap the Search bar.
- Search for your address to find nearby meal distribution sites.
- Tap the name of the meal distribution site to view the schedule for breakfast and lunch. Tap the direction buttons to go to Google Maps.
Editor's Note: This map was last updated 5/20/2020, 4 p.m. EDT.
We're doing our best to keep this resource up to date. Given our limited staff resources, we'll be updating this map about once a day. It's possible meal distribution sites on this map may have closed or moved, and there could be other sites in the area we don't know about yet. We recommend calling ahead or checking local district websites to confirm that a location is still open. If you have information we should know about a site that is or isn't on this map, please email us at meals@chalkbeat.org. Given how fast this story is developing, we will likely change our approach to maintaining this resource as circumstances shift. We'll listen to you in making the decisions, and keep you updated as things change. We are trying to be as transparent as possible as we all navigate these extraordinary times.