AG asks companies to give to food banks

At a time when we count our blessings there are families in central Indiana that have fewer blessings to count and are in need of help this holiday season. One in every eight people in this state, now lives in poverty. In Marion County alone poverty is up 50 percent.

Indiana legislators and the state's Attorney General are trying to make sure those living in need, still get a hot meal.

Saturday, Indiana Attorney Greg Zoeller said there is a growing need, "So our goal is to exceed the 300 thousand dollars that were appropriated by the Indiana General Assembly."

Last June, state legislators recognized the dire need to feed hungry Hoosiers and appropriated state dollars, $300,000, to the organization Feeding Indiana's Hungry or FIsH. FIsH solicits, collects, warehouses and distributes millions of pounds of food to about 1,600 kitchens and food banks across the state, like Gleaners Food Bank here in Indianapolis.

FIsH President John Epling said, "We all know that there's a lot of families struggling and as we, as we approach Thanksgiving and the Christmas time I think this is a great expression to show our thanks."

Now, Attorney General Zoeller and FIsH are asking for private donations to match the state's appropriated funds.

Gleaners Food bank serves a 20 counties in central Indiana, counties where more than 225,000 people live in poverty and more than 80,000 of them are children.

"But the demand has far exceeded the ability to keep up." Attorney General Zoeller said.

In the coming weeks Attorney General Greg Zoeller will be asking business leaders to step up and make their year end donations to FIsH.