Food insecurity is not simply the absence of food—it’s the absence of reliable, nutritious, accessible food that meets a household’s needs over time. The Working Hungry’s documentary Food, Insecure delves into this reality, showing how food insecurity affects working families, communities, and our shared responsibility for solutions. For Common Ground at Faith, the lessons of this film reinforce our mission and sharpen our lens on food access, community empowerment, and system change.
The Scope of the Challenge
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 2023 about 13.5%—roughly 18 million—of U.S. households were food insecure at some point during the year. Food insecurity means uncertain access to enough food for an active, healthy life. Nationally and locally, the burden disproportionately affects low-income households, households of color, and renters facing rising housing and transportation costs.
In Indiana, The Working Hungry highlights that approximately 950,000 Hoosiers are food insecure. Importantly, the film underscores that many people experiencing food insecurity are employed, yet still unable to consistently meet their basic needs.
What Food, Insecure Brings to the Table
Released in 2024, Food, Insecure builds on earlier work by The Working Hungry and digs deeper into what food insecurity looks and feels like for Hoosiers. The documentary explores root causes, community impact, and the levers that actually create change.
Key takeaways include:
-
Food insecurity is not just about having food—it’s about having nutritious food, consistent access, and dignity in the experience of obtaining it.
-
Many households rarely or never eat nutritious meals despite working jobs, often because of income volatility, housing costs, transportation barriers, or care-giving responsibilities.
-
Sustainable solutions require more than food donations. They involve stronger local food systems, fresh food production, reduced barriers to access, and policies that address systemic inequities.
-
Community voice and place-based work matter. When stories are told locally, people engage more deeply and are more likely to demand meaningful change.
The Logical Bridge to Common Ground at Faith
At Common Ground at Faith, our mission is to simplify access to essential resources so families can thrive. The insights from Food, Insecure connect directly to our approach:
1. Local Production + Proximity
The documentary emphasizes the importance of local food systems. Our partnership with Indy Urban Acres—whose farms sit directly behind the former Faith UMC site—embodies this lesson. Fresh produce grown steps from our doors reduces transportation barriers, provides healthier options, and affirms that nutritious food should be a right, not a privilege.
2. Dignified Access + Community Agency
A recurring theme in Food, Insecure is the importance of dignity. Food access must respect people’s time, preferences, and humanity.
Common Ground at Faith is being designed with dignity at its core:
-
A welcoming, choice-based food pantry
-
Ample produce grown locally
-
Space that treats neighbors like partners, not recipients
This aligns with the film’s assertion that food insecurity solutions must go beyond calories—they must nurture dignity and autonomy.
3. Systemic Roots + Sustainable Solutions
The documentary pushes audiences to look at the systemic factors that make families food insecure, including wages, housing, transportation, and limited access to healthy food.
Common Ground at Faith is built on the belief that food access cannot stand alone. It must be connected to:
-
Health services
-
Workforce supports
-
Community partnerships
-
Nutrition education
-
Expanded food storage and distribution capacity
This systems-based design ensures that families don’t just get food for today—they get support for tomorrow.
What This Means for Our Community
For families on the Far Eastside, the alignment between the film and our work means:
-
More access to fresh, locally grown produce
-
A food pantry experience centered on dignity and autonomy
-
A one-stop hub that connects food access with health, employment, and family stability
-
A long-term vision that addresses the roots of food insecurity, not just its symptoms
A Call to Action
The Working Hungry invites communities to learn, engage, and advocate for solutions that address the full landscape of food insecurity. That same call sits at the heart of Common Ground at Faith.
As we build this new facility and expand our services, there are countless ways to get involved—from volunteering to supporting our capital project to spreading awareness.
Together, we can take the insights from Food, Insecure, pair them with community-driven action, and build a future where every neighbor has consistent access to nutritious, dignified food.