INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - Indiana is known as a booming agricultural state, but food insecurity exists in every Indiana county.
In Indianapolis, one-in-five people live in food deserts. It's an especially big problem on the city's far east side, where the Walmart Neighborhood Market at 38th Street and North Franklin Road will close July 12.
Shirley Jones, a regular customer said, "I was shocked when I heard it. I'm going to miss it. There's no other store, no other transportation."
Jones, who has a disability, doesn't drive. She usually walks to the store, which is across the street from the complex where she lives. On the days when she loads up on groceries, she gets a ride from her brother.
But in a few weeks, the nearest grocery store will be four miles away, a bus trip that can take an hour or more and that worries her.
"There's a lot of disabled people over here and they just walk," she said.
But soon they will have another option: taking a Lyft to the grocery store. It's all part of a pilot program modeled after one in Washington, D.C. involving the city, ride share company, the Central Indiana Community Foundation and Mt. Carmel Church.
Lola Bartlett, director of Christian Education at the church, oversees the food pantry, church vegetable garden and farmers market.
Barlett said improving access to food is a top priority.
"There's a lot of need. Every day people are calling," said Barlett. "We're trying to help but we can't do it all by ourselves."
She hopes the Lyft Project will go a long way in helping. It will provide discounted Lyft rides to four grocery stores for up to 500 families living within the boundaries of 46th Street to 38th Street and Franklin Road to German Church Road.
Families who qualify will get one trip to and from a grocery store once a week, paying a dollar each way, which is less than bus fare.
When we pulled up the Lyft app Thursday afternoon near the Walmart Neighborhood Market, we saw as many as five Lyft drivers in the area, with the nearest three minutes away and the fair $8.77 (again the discounted rate would be $1.)
Bartlett said, it's not just about the cost but the ease. She said it's one thing taking the bus to the grocery store and another, "coming back with an armful of bags," weighted down with things like milk and canned goods.
When told of the program Jones said, "I've never tried Lyft or Uber but I'd be willing to give it a try."
Still it's not for everyone, certainly not 88-year-old Lois Banyas, who also shops at the Walmart Neighborhood Market.
While she's leery about having to drive farther to get to the nearest grocery, she said she' more leery about using an app.
"It's confusing. I can do none of that," she said.
When asked what she'd do after the Walmart closed she said, "My kids will have to take care of that."
The Lyft program begins July 1, nearly two weeks before the Walmart closes. The cost of the six-month pilot is $160, paid for by the city and LT.
Even though the fare will be $1 for those who eligible for the discounted rates, Lyft drivers will earn the full fare.
Barlett said her church was already in the process of helping people apply for the program.
A Walmart spokesperson emailed WTHR, noting that Walmart has three stores within five miles of location that's closing. She said two of those stores offer Grocery Delivery and Grocery Pickup. The delivery fee starts at $7.95. Like many other grocers, Walmart also offers Online Grocery Pickup which is free.