The Starke County Government Food Delivery Service Program is helping many Starke County residents who are in need of assistance in response to COVID-19. Residents who have the means to do so can donate toward the program.
Monetary donations can be made to the Northern Indiana Community Foundation, P.O. Box 807, Rochester, IN 46975. The organization services Starke County and money will be appropriated toward this effort.
Starke County did receive a $125,000 grant from the Community Foundation to be used in this endeavor. The county is still waiting to see if an Office of Community and Rural Affairs grant is awarded worth $250,000 for the program.
Starke County Auditor Rachel Oesterreich said program officials are taking orders for food delivery, like the ones on Saffron Road, for either an essential box of groceries from a local grocery store, or hot food items from restaurants. The order form is live each weekday on the county’s website at www.co.starke.in.us from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT but may be closed early depending on volume. Those without internet access can call the Starke County Clerk’s Office at 574-772-9128.
Restaurant owners wanting to participate may call the Starke County Auditor’s Office at 574-772-9101.
Some orders may not be next day delivery. As of Tuesday night, orders were being taken for Friday delivery. Someone will need to be home when the delivery arrives or the order becomes invalid. The order will be left on the doorstep and the delivery driver will alert the resident of the food’s arrival by ringing the doorbell or knocking on the door. The driver will then back away from the front door to a safe distance until someone comes to the door. Food will not be left unattended on a doorstep if no one is home.
Oesterreich said Monday that most of the requests have been made from the county’s older population directly affected to the COVID-19 pandemic. Anyone who needs assistance as a direct result of COVID-19 is welcome to take part in this program.
