September is Hunger Action Month, Donations Needed Locally
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
A perfect storm of job losses and price hikes is making it harder for families to put food on their tables.
That’s why September is Hunger Action Month.
The month is dedicated to helping those in need find access to food.
A CROP Hunger Walk sponsored by Greater Warsaw Ministerial Association is Sunday from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at Center Lake Pavilion.
Seventy five percent of the proceeds will be given for world hunger issues, and 25 percent will be divided between Combined Community Services and Salvation Army in cooperation with the North Central Indiana Food Bank to help stock the shelves in their pantries.
There are several local organizations that are in need of food donations so they can continue to assist the community.
Roz Morgan, founding director of Our Father’s House in Warsaw, said the organization spent $1,700 this month in purchasing food for its pantry.
“With people losing their jobs daily, food prices going up, and the cost of daycare going up, this is a perfect storm,” Morgan said.
She said protein-rich items such as peanut butter and tuna fish are needed most.
People can drop off donated items at Our Father’s House, 401 Argonne Rd., Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Our Father’s House offers food pantry services Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 1:30 to 5 p.m.
Our Father’s House also offers clothing and furniture assistance. These services are offered every Monday on a first-come, first-served basis.
God’s Highway to Heaven Church, 555 Webster St., Warsaw, offers a food pantry on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 4 to 5 p.m.
The pantry is in need of canned foods, and boxes of macaroni and cheese and cereal, according to Judy Pennington, who oversees the food pantry.
Pennington said five to six months ago the pantry was serving 35-45 clients per month, and now is serving more than 75 clients per month.
People who would like to assist God’s Highway To Heaven food pantry can call the church at 574-267-4061 or email charlesjudy@embarqmail.com
Combined Community Services, 110 E. Prairie St., Warsaw, serves the community with a food pantry Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to noon.
CCS is currently in need of peanut butter, cereal, pasta, soup, and pasta sauce.
“We average serving 560 families per month currently, and over the last two years served 400 families per month,” said Peggi Lisenbee-Wright, CCS director of client assistance.
The Salvation Army offers a food pantry service at 501 E. Arthur St., Warsaw. Its hours are Mondays through Fridays from 8 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. The organization also accepts food donations during those times.
Items needed are canned goods and produce, according to Ken Locke, Salvation Army Community Ministries director.
Locke said the Salvation Army has seen a 54 percent increase in services over the last five years.
People who need to find a food pantry in their county can dial United Way’s 2-1-1 service.
