12-4-2009 | Food Banks Get Funding Aid
GARY – Clients of eight food pantries in East Chicago are set to have a happy holiday season and beyond, thanks to a new partnership between the Foundations of East Chicago and the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana.
The two entities have entered into a partnership where in the foundation has given the food bank $45,000 on behalf of the eight pantries, which will use the money to supplement their budgets. The foundation presented the foodbank with a check Thursday at the foodbank’s Gary headquarters.
Through the partnership, each of the pantries will receive $5,625 and the opportunity to purchase food through the food bank at a discount between 30 and 40 percent, director Angie Williams said. That will mean the pantries will be able to purchase food at 15 cents per pound in most cases.
The foundation has been funding the pantries to the tune of $5,000 per year for six or seven years, according to Tyrone Spann, the foundation’s director of programming. But they wanted to take the investment a step further.
“We want to see if this is a more effective way to meet the increase (of people using the
pantries), stretch dollars and best serve clientele,” Spann said. “If it works and is good for both of us, the program may be expanded to other communities. Plus, this guarantees the pantries are able to make their USDA match.”
Williams estimates the pantries will see a 20 percent increase in purchasing power, something Antioch Missionary Baptist Pantry Director Birdie Morris and Assistant Director Willie Williams can’t wait to get.
“I need money for Christmas,” Morris said.
Eight Churches in Need
The eight food pantries from the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana/Foundations of East Chicago
partnership are:
- Antioch Missionary Baptist Church.
3902-06 Alexander Ave. - Catholic Charities.
3901 Fir St. - God First Ministries.
801 E. Chicago Ave.
4009 - Iglesia del Nazareno
919 W.Chicago Ave. - Meek Missionary Baptist Church
4830 Alexander Ave. - New Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church
3924 Kennedy Ave. - The Salvation Army East Chicago Corps
513 W. Chicago Ave.
Fir St.
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