Sometimes, the role of Food Banks goes beyond providing food. Other resources for health and hygiene, and personal development, are important too – and many of these resources cannot be acquired through programs like SNAP or WIC. We are glad to use our network of partners to make non-food resources available to community members in East Central Indiana.
In 2025, Second Harvest provided
337,000+ Pounds
of Non-Food Resources.
Many basic household items, like laundry detergent, hand soap, and deodorant, are items that low-income families may go without not by choice, but because of cost. Lack of access to basic hygiene can lead to medical complications and pose social and economic challenges that prevent a person from moving towards resource stability. Second Harvest helps meet this need by making hygiene supplies available to our resource partners, so that families in need can stay healthy, and can maintain their dignity.
Through our partnerships, we provide diapers, wipes, and other supplies to parents of young children. 1 in 2 caregivers struggle to afford diapers, but thanks to our membership in the National Diaper Bank Network we were able to distribute over 490,000 diapers in 2025.
No one should have to miss school, work, or social functions because they cannot access period supplies. Thanks to our membership in the Alliance For Period Supplies we are able to help increase access to these basic needs items through our programs and agency partners.
Thanks to our wide network, we are sometimes able to be a hub for other non-food resources. This can include books, household appliances, clothing, and more! These resources are sometimes donated to us directly, or another organization partners with us to distribute items received through a grant. We are always excited to be a vector for community development.
Forward STEPS, a Second Harvest initiative, fosters community understanding of poverty and economic mobility. It engages individuals, businesses, schools, and organizations in exploring root causes and solutions by diving into the root causes of under-resourced circumstances and strategies to break the cycle of poverty and meaningful action towards its eradication.
