Food Bank of Northern Indiana to Visit Starke, Marshall, LaPorte Counties

 
 

The Food Bank of Northern Indiana will soon be traveling to several counties throughout the region, offering fresh perishable items and dry goods free of charge to residents. The Food Bank’s mobile food pantry team will be setting up tables at pre-scheduled locations, allowing people to take their pick of items that best meet their needs.

While the pantries are first-come, first-served, Mary Joe Martinec of the food bank explained a myriad of items will be available for those in need.

“We provide a variety of items,” said Martinec. “We provide some protein; it’s all perishable items and then some non-perishable items, so there will be some produce available, some grains, protein, and then some extra non-perishable food items.”

Patrons must provide a valid photo ID and are asked to bring bags or boxes to transport their items home. The first pantry will take place Friday, Nov. 1 at the Good Shepard at 6006 N. Fail Road in LaPorte. Another pantry will follow in Lakeville on Nov. 8 at the Lakeville United Methodist Church, located at 610 N. Michigan.

In Marshall County, a food pantry will visit the Train Depot at 615 E. Lake Shore Drive in Culver on Nov. 15, followed by the final pantry in Knox on Nov. 26 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, located at 1600 S. Heaton St.

The pantries will take place from 10 a.m. to noon local time.

Martinec said the food bank provides these services to the community for those in need, to complement the food offered by local food pantries.

“So many people who need the services that food pantries provide really need those services. But for people that go to food pantries, there are limits as to how many times they can go. Many are able to go only once every 30 days, so holding these mobile pantries in various communities throughout northern Indiana really allows us to help those who need the help by giving them an extra boost and some extra food,” Martinec explained.

For anyone interested in lending a helping hand to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana, Martinec said there are a variety of ways people can help out. She said they are most in need of volunteers, money, and food donations.

“For every $1 that is donated to the food bank, we can provide up to nine meals or 11 pounds of food, so monetary donations are always welcome. We also accept food donations as well, so if you are interested in helping, just go to our website which is feedindiana.org, and you can find a list of our most needed items or a variety of ways that you can help, because in addition to food and money, we also need volunteer help as well,” Martinec said.