The Columbus East High School food pantry will provide free groceries for Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. students and their families in need from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the school, 230 S. Marr Road.
Those people can drive to the west side of the building near the tennis courts to door No. 31 where a line of vehicles will form, said Greg Lewis, pantry coordinator and also chairman of the school’s social studies department. At that door, prepackaged bags with about 20 items per family — meat, fruit, canned goods and boxed foods such as macaroni — will be available for free, all with no close contact between clients and volunteers.
People will be asked about the number of individuals in their household.
“This could be a tremendous service for our families in need,” said Bill Jensen, BCSC director of secondary education.
A variety of local stores, businesses, factories, restaurant dining rooms, and other workplaces have been closed by the COVID-19 crisis in the past couple of weeks with no clear sign of when they might reopen. And Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb recently ordered Hoosiers to stay home, if possible, except for necessities such as food.
Lewis said that he hopes people needing assistance will show up for the help.
“Since its inception, we have struggled to get a lot of people to use it,” Lewis said. “I guess part of that is still a kind of stigma.”
In November, though, a record 102 families used the outlet during a three-hour serving period, Lewis said.
The seven-year-old Gleaners Food Bank school-based pantry currently is well-stocked, he said. Supplies come from the Indianapolis-based Gleaners and from local donors.
Lewis added that if, after all student families are served and if there is still an ample supply, some members of the general public also could be served in a separate line left waiting until the end.
“I don’t yet have a feel for what this is going to be like,” Lewis said. “First and foremost, we’re trying to help our families with kids, and make as big of an impact as we can,” Lewis said.
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What: Free groceries pickup for Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. students and their immediate family who are in need
Information: 812-376-4343
When: 4 to 7 p.m. Friday
Where: Columbus East High School food pantry. Drive to East’s door No. 31 near the tennis courts on the west side of the building at 230 S. Marr Road.
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