Even on a rainy and cold November day, people started lining up outside the Interchurch Food Pantry before doors opened.
Every day leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday had brought more and more people to the pantry, breaking records for the number of clients each day, pantry manager Carol Phipps said.
The Interchurch Food Pantry feeds an average of 80 to 90 families each day at its Franklin facility. By mid-November, that number had increased to more than 100 households each day.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
Click here to purchase photos from this gallery“Those are record numbers for us,” Phipps said. “I think that although the economy has improved in many ways, there are a number of families who have been left behind.”
As the end of the year approaches, local food pantries are preparing for their busiest time of year. The increase in clients is tempered by an uptick in generosity, as donors in the holiday spirit provide money and food to feed the hungry.
Pantry managers are thankful for the support. But they also know that even after the Christmas season ends, hungry residents still will need help.
In order to feed the hungry, pantries have tried to think of creative sources of income to ensure that they have enough for the cold winter months ahead.
“We have constant needs throughout the year. Giving is more prevalent this time of year, since people are thinking about it a little more, but our people stay hungry all year long,” said Kimberly Smith, executive director of Johnson County Senior Services.
This is the time of year when the county’s most vulnerable senior citizens suffer, Smith said.
Johnson County Senior Services receives calls daily about seniors who are forced to eat out of the garbage to survive, who have to eat dog food or who go days without eating.
“The calls are heart-wrenching, and it’s every single day,” Smith said. “They’re choosing between food and medicine, and not doing a good job of getting food at all.”
Last year, Johnson County Senior Services distributed $361,000 worth of food to its clients, Smith said. Distribution is up 44.4 percent this year from what it was in 2015.
To handle the increase, the organization has leaned heavily on grant money. In November, Johnson County Senior Services received a $7,500 grant from the Glick Fund at Central Indiana Community Foundation.
The grant was part of the foundation’s Feeding Those in Need program, the sole purpose of which is getting food to those who are hungry or food insecure. The money will allow the organization to purchase non-perishable food, such as soup and pasta, as well as produce, milk and fresh meat to provide to clients. It will make sure the pantry stays stocked.
“Lately, we’ve just been purchasing all kind of canned vegetables and other things from our pantry list that seniors would need,” Smith said.
Senior Services delivers food to homebound seniors and others who can’t come to its Franklin office for the pantry. As the only pantry who does deliveries, the organization is often contacted by the United Way and other social service agencies to provide food for anyone who needs it, whether they’re senior citizens or not, Smith said.
“Whether it’s a senior living by themselves or a homeless young mom staying in a hotel, we answer all of those calls and are dispatched to see them,” she said. “We’ll feed anyone who’s hungry.”
At the Interchurch Food Pantry, 2016 has been the busiest year to date, Phipps said.
In 2015, the Interchurch Food Pantry served individual households 16,827 times. This year, households served is up 24 percent, Phipps said. The pantry is averaging 1,700 households served each month, reaching 1,900 families in October.
Phipps anticipates November to be even greater.
“It’s been a steady increase all year,” she said. “What we hear is that families are piecing together low-paying jobs or part-time jobs to try to get by. When we can provide food, it stretches their dollars that much further.”
Support for the pantry comes from all over the county, including from churches, civic organizations and schools. Individuals and businesses have always been important donors of funds, but in the past month, pantry officials have made a more concerted effort to reach out to their business partners.
Businesses were given the opportunity to sponsor full and half-days at the pantry, Phipps said.
Local companies, such as the Dairy Queen of Center Grove area and Franklin Insurance Agency, paid $267 to cover half-days. Horizon Bank spent $1,070 for two days right before Thanksgiving.
Monarch Beverage donated $3,200 and opted to sponsor the entire week of Christmas. The company also provided 67 turkeys to give away to people leading up to the holiday.
“It allows us to stretch our dollars that much further. When we get donated food like the turkeys, we can give that away,” Phipps said. “Then these sponsorships provide much-needed funding. It’s the only way we can operate.”
November and December is the time of year when many organizations put together food drives and put in extra effort to donate items for the pantry.
“That really helps us plan for January and February, when we don’t have a lot of that going on,” Phipps said. “These generous drives allow us to keep the shelves stocked through the lean winter.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”At a glance” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
How to Help
CARE Food Pantry
Location: 2911 S. Morgantown Road
Donations: Foods and toiletries are accepted when Center Grove schools are in session from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday. For large donations, call the office to arrange a time for drop-off.
Information: (317) 885-5242
His Hand Extended Food and Clothing Pantry
Location: Trinity broadcasting, 2528 S. U.S. 31, Greenwood
Donations: Non-perishable food items, clothing and small household items may be dropped off 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Information: (317) 535-5542.
Interchurch Food Pantry of Johnson County
Location: 211 Commerce Drive, Franklin
Donations: Accepted noon to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 to 11 a.m. Saturdays. Monetary donations can be made at ifpjc.org. Sponsorships are available as well.
Information: (317) 736-5090, [email protected]
Mount Pleasant Christian Church Community Life Center
Location: 381 N. Bluff Road, Greenwood
Donations: Items may be dropped off 9 a.m. to noon Mondays, Tuesdays and first and third Saturdays of the month and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Monetary donations can be made at mpcc.info/community-life-center
Information: (317) 889-9650
Lord’s Locker
Location: 106 E. Pearl St., Trafalgar
Donations: Accepted 9 a.m. to noon Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday; 9 a.m. to noon the third Saturday of every month
Information: (317) 878-7708
Our Lady of the Greenwood
Location: 335 S. Meridian St.
Donations: Patrons can make donations at the red cart inside the back door of the church between 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call the church for large donations.
Information: (317) 888-2861
The Refuge
Location: The Hope Centre, 65 Airport Parkway, Suite 114, Greenwood
Donations: Food and hygiene items are accepted during pantry hours, 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, or during office hours, 8 a.m. to noon Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday and Wednesday. Financial donations can be made at therefugeinc.com
Information: (317) 889-7338
SS Francis and Clare Parish Harvest Food Pantry
Location: 5901 Olive Branch Road, Greenwood
Donations: Donations can be made during operating hours of pantry 9 a.m. to noon second and fourth Saturday.
Information: (317) 859-4673
Johnson County Senior Services
Location: 731 S. State St., Franklin
Donations: Donations can be made at jcseniorservices.org
Information: (317) 738-4544
[sc:pullout-text-end]
