With temperatures starting to drop, and radio stations shifting to more merry and bright tones, many families have started planning for the upcoming holiday season.
While some clans will continue their annual celebrations with magnificent meals and gifts, many Hoosiers aren’t feeling as fortunate as the new year approaches.
The COVID-19 pandemic has tightened purse strings for thousands of individuals in Indiana, including in Bartholomew County.
Over the past eight months, the number of families seeking assistance for basic needs has risen due to pandemic-related changes.
Unemployment has improved since the spring, but still remains high at 4.9% for Bartholomew County and 6.2% statewide. Additionally, local food pantries are still seeing a steady need for assistance since the $600 in weekly federal unemployment aid expired in September.
Since both COVID-19 positive cases and hospitalizations are significantly rising in Indiana, it’s not unreasonable to predict that many more families could face unexpected expenses in the coming weeks.
Thankfully, volunteers are mobilizing to help lessen the load for the holidays.
Organizations such as the America and Roby Anderson Community Center, First Christian Church and Columbus Baptist Church plan to deliver thousands of dinners to those in need this Thanksgiving. All of those organizations are still taking orders, and are not turning any families away that need help.
The United Way of Bartholomew County is also still taking Holiday Helpline registrations, and will continue to do so through Dec. 4. to provide needy families with toys and food. The Holiday Helpline (812-375-2216) registers people for the Community Center of Hope Angel Tree, Firemen’s Cheer Fund, Shop with a Cop, the Love Chapel Holiday Food Pantry, Toys For Tots, and the St. Bartholomew Giving Tree.
A system is in place to help, but more volunteers and donations are still needed.
Many Hoosiers have endured immense hardship in 2020 — and will continue to struggle well into 2021.
Those able to donate should consider reaching out to a local nonprofit and seeing how they can help.
The community has worked together through these difficult times, and we will need to continue to lean on one another moving forward.
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