Starke County Auditor Rachel Oesterreich updated the commissioners last week about the progress of the Starke County Government Mobile Food Delivery Program.
She said since April, households have been served who were directly affected by COVID-19. People who are quarantined and those whose employment may have suffered from the shutdown of business have benefited the program. The older population also takes part in the program to help them in a time of need.
Currently, about $57,000 has been spent for the program that provides groceries to those in need and hot meals. Oesterreich said the OCRA funding is being spent first and then the grant funds awarded to the county from the Starke County Community Foundation and the Northern Indiana Community Foundation will be used.
As the program continues, the need for volunteers for deliveries increases. Oesterreich said two interns from Northern Indiana Community Foundation are doing meal deliveries now, but they will be going back to college in the fall. Commissioner Bryan Cavender has also volunteered many hours delivering to the residents of Starke County. Clerk Bernadette Manuel said her office may have limited participation when the November Election gets closer. Starke County Attorney Marty Lucas said he will look into an idea of hiring a part-time person to do the deliveries. If anyone would like to volunteer, call the Auditor’s Office at 574-772-9101.
Commissioner Kathy Norem said the program has been successful. She heard a comment that a local restaurant owner was especially grateful for the program.
“If it wouldn’t have been for the county buying meals from him once a week, he wouldn’t have survived the shutdown,” commented Norem. “We produced two good things with this and that was to help boost the local restaurants and feed people that needed to be fed. I think that was good.”
For now, the meal delivery order form is open on Mondays and Thursdays and can be found on the county’s website www.co.starke.in.us. Orders for Monday deliveries will be accepted on Thursday. Thursday deliveries will be accepted on Monday. Each household will be limited to one request per week. For more information, call the Clerk’s Office at 574-772-9128.
