MENTONE - Eighteen years ago, Jerry and Mary Secrist opened Helping Hands Food Bank, 10274 W. CR 600S, Mentone.

It's the same year they were married.

This year on Dec. 21, they will have people lined up for Christmas assistance beginning at 6 or 7 a.m. The food bank won't open until 11 a.m.

Helping Hands, Mary said, started in a little trailer. "We outgrew it before we were even opened," she said. Jerry built the building Helping Hands now is housed in. Originally, they distributed food and clothing, but now just concentrate on food and the essentials. At Christmas, Jerry said, they do have some toys.

"We are so fortunate to have Toys For Tots for the fourth year. We're so grateful for that," said Mary.

"Over half the people, 52 percent, are single women," said Jerry of the people they assist. "They all got three to four kids."

Mary said in November, Helping Hands probably had at least 30 new families out of the more than 100 families they assisted.

"We don't take any dented cans," said Jerry. "No busted boxes. We check all the dates on the items."

Jerry said almost anyone can apply for food assistance. The government helps sponsor the food bank, but Jerry said they only had government support once this year. The rest of the food was bought at the South Bend Food Bank at 16 cents per pound.

"We have to take what's on a list," said Mary. The order is called in ahead of time and then Mary and Jerry drive to South Bend, load the groceries, drive back and unload the groceries themselves into the food bank.

"We enjoy it," said Jerry of helping others.

A family of four can qualify if they make less than $31,928 annually, while a family of two qualifies if they earn less than $21,170 annually. Helping Hands serves the areas of Burket, Mentone, Akron, Rochester and Etna Green.

Jerry said Helping Hands gets a lot of support. Besides being a United Way agency, they also are supported by the local chamber of commerce, churches and schools. They have volunteers from Akron United Methodist Church and Eldon Horn.

"They're all so good," said Jerry.

Regular hours for the food bank January through October are every Thursday from 3 to about 6 p.m. In November, they are only open on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. In December, they are open either the Tuesday or Thursday before Christmas, depending on which day Christmas falls.

"We've never had to turn anyone away," said Mary. "We've always had plenty."

For more information about Helping Hands, call 574-353-1300. If no one answers, leave your name, number and a message. [[In-content Ad]]