According to a press release from the Northern Indiana Community Foundation, the Starke County Community Foundation recently awarded a $2,500 grant to the Knox Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, based at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish.
Funded in part by the Hardesty Memorial Endowment Fund and Starke County Community Funds, the grant will support the organization’s efforts to bring comfort and dignity to individuals experiencing homelessness in Starke County.
Recognizing the urgent need for shelter alternatives in the area, the volunteer-led group is assembling “comfort packs” for individuals and families with nowhere else to turn. The packs will include essential items such as food, toiletries, waterproof blankets, clean clothing, flashlights with batteries, and tote bags or backpacks.
“Our small group receives calls from people who are homeless and have no place to go,” said Mary Kleinfehn, active member of the Society. “We can’t solve the problem of homelessness, but we hope to provide some comfort.”
Each pack will also include a handwritten note of encouragement and information about local resources, such as medical or dental services.
The release goes on to state that the grant was made possible in part through generous donors to community funds at the Starke County Community Foundation. They state that right now, gifts to any community fund will be tripled through a matching opportunity where for every $1 donated, an additional $2 will be added to the donation.
To learn more about the Starke County Community Foundation, contribute to the match, or explore available grants, contact Starke County Director of Development Jacque Ryan at 574.772.3665 or visit http://www.nicf.org.
