• Matt Smith, PhD, named new CEO of St. Joseph Community Health Foundation
• Amani Family Services’ Naturalization and Legal Assistance program turns immigration support into economic strength
• SNAP DoubleUp has a new home with the Northeast IN Local Food Network
• Prenatal & Infant Care Network Luncheon: December 4, Safe Medication Practices

The Board of Directors and the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ (PHJC) announce the appointment of Matt Smith, PhD, as the next Chief Executive Officer of the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation (SJCHF) in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Smith will begin work at the local foundation on December 1, 2025, and formally assume full leadership responsibilities on January 1, 2026.

Smith will replace Meg Distler, who retires at the end of the year. Distler has served the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, a religious order of Catholic sisters, since 1993, when she began working at St. Joe Hospital, founded in 1869 by the PHJC as the first hospital in Fort Wayne, dedicated to the care of those most in need...

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By Bailey Gerber | InputFortWayne.com | October 6, 2025

For nearly a decade, Allen County has experienced year-over-year population growth, part of which is attributable to immigrants and refugees. According to the American Immigration Council, immigrants made up 24% of the county’s population growth between 2014 and 2019. Those numbers have continued to grow as Fort Wayne has become a top resettlement location. 

Research also shows that this influx drives workforce development and economic success in the communities where immigrants settle — but many of them come in at a disadvantage, not knowing what they have access to or how to pursue the opportunities available to them.

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When local leaders noticed a significant influx in arrivals to the Fort Wayne community about five years ago, they began to consider whether the number of people coming exceeded the capacity of their support systems. To address this challenge, organizations like Amani Family Services engaged in...

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By Karen Peterson | Northeast Indiana Local Food Network

Since 2020, the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation (SJCHF) has championed Double Up Indiana (DUI), a program that boosts healthy food access for SNAP recipients at 12 farm markets or stores in Allen County. Through a USDA GusNIP grant, SJCHF established this $1-for-$1 produce match, contributing over $562,951 to the local economy.

As federal funding for the program concludes on September 30, 2025, the Northeast Indiana Local Food Network (NEILFN) will assume administration starting October 1st. NEILFN is committed to building upon SJCHF’s established foundation but acknowledges the challenging federal and state funding climates. To secure DUI's long-term future and continue addressing food insecurity, NEILFN has launched the "Local Food for All Fund". Bowen Health is a lead donor, and an anonymous donor is currently matching all gifts. Vital community support helps ensure continued access to fresh, healthy food for all residents in Allen County. St. Joe Foundation has also committed to partial funding for the programming going forward.

Contribute to the Local Food for All Fund here 

Learn more and find DUI locations here