In 2014, Indianapolis was named the worst city in the nation for food deserts, according to WalkScore, a company whose mission is to promote walkable neighborhoods. In the summer of 2015, Indianapolis communities lost a staple when all Double 8 Foods locations closed their doors without warning, leaving hundreds of Hoosiers without access to fresh food. Congressman Andre Carson, D-Ind., is looking to change the way the community gains access to food. He recently introduced the Food Deserts Act to Congress, a piece of legislation that would make it easier for grocery stores to open and operate in areas labeled as a food desert.
“This bill will allow those similar to Double 8 Foods or even an upstart nonprofit store to get low-interest loans they need to open and maintain operations. In return, they must provide fresh, non-processed food and sample items in their selection at below-market prices,” Carson said during a press conference at the Edna Martin Christian Center.
After Double 8 locations closed, many neighbors began relying on items found at convenience stores and fast food restaurants. Carson said this is why too many children and adults are going hungry and many are suffering from malnutrition, obesity and diabetes.
Local resident Maxine Thomas, who was impacted greatly by the closing of Double 8 Foods, said she knew she had to do something to help others in need of food. The day of the closing, she left a note on the door of the vacant store asking those who were in need of assistance to reach out to her.
“I was willing to pick up whoever needed my help and take them to the nearest grocery store,” said Thomas. “Two days later, I got a phone call from a woman in tears. She used to walk to Double 8 at 34th and Fairfield although she lived on Meridian. She would carry a suitcase to the store to fill up her groceries. She had some back problems, and she knew she wouldn’t be able to lift the bag onto the bus, nor did she have money to call a cab.”
Thomas transported the woman to Aldi on Keystone Avenue.
“She was so grateful! I told her to take her time and I waited in my van for her,” she stated. “I helped her unload and carry everything to her apartment complex, and she tried to offer me money, but I told her to keep it and enjoy her food. From then on, we gained this wonderful relationship.”
Carson said the bill is not aimed to fund construction of a multimillion-dollar program, as he believes food deserts would benefit significantly from a small mom-and-pop corner store or small locally owned grocery stores.
Since funding can be an issue, he hopes to gain more bipartisan support; so far, he said, the bill has very little. However, he said he has been encouraged by conversations with Republicans in delegation and hopes to work with Congress to build a very strong bipartisan effort.
“Since I started this effort, I’m encouraged time and time again that many of this funding is much too uncertain, which is critically important,” said Carson. “Depending on which party is in control in the White House or Congress, spending on food access increases or decreases dramatically. Some of our most critical programs have been defunded for years, and this new bill seeks to get around that problem. With one infusion of federal funding, we can create state-owned funds that are not subject to political pressure.”
If the bill passes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture would provide grants, which would then be distributed to nonprofit or for-profit businesses to open a grocery store.
