Community Services of Starke County is looking to target the northern part of the county. Executive Director Cynthia Benke gave an update to the county commissioners last week.
“One of the major things that I’m hearing is that the north part of the county, in their words, is being ignored,” she explained. “So I went to a Joy luncheon this last week up in Koontz Lake, and I found out that there is a food desert up there. The one market that they did have has closed recently.”
Not only that, but residents also felt that there weren’t enough activities for seniors and transportation was an issue.
Benke reminds residents that Community Services does offer public transportation for the county, although pandemic-related supply shortages are making it hard to update its aging fleet. “Unfortunately, I’m hearing that a lot of people think that it’s only for the elderly or the sick,” she noted. “So I’m trying to put an advertising campaign together to let people know we’re here for everybody, not just the elderly and the sick.”
She said Community Services’ food pantry is open three days a week, and the Knox and North Judson senior centers are open with limited hours.
