Love Chapel planning its largest expansion in the organization’s history

Cathy Tower sorts food to be distributed to local schools at the Love Chapel Food Pantry in Columbus on Tuesday. Mike Wolanin | The Republic

COLUMBUS, Ind. — Love Chapel food pantry is planning to embark on the largest expansion in the organization’s history over the coming years in an effort to increase access to food in Bartholomew County.

The plan, approved by the organization’s 33-member board, includes efforts to increase evening hours at its food pantry, expand services in rural areas of the county, increase food deliveries and offer services geared at the county’s growing Latinx population, said Love Chapel Executive Director Kelly Daugherty.

To reach the goals in the plan, the county’s largest food pantry will need to greatly increase the number of volunteers it has and hire around five additional paid staff, including a Spanish-speaking employee and a staff member focused on recruiting volunteers, Daugherty said.

Love Chapel, known as the Ecumenical Assembly of Bartholomew County Churches, has been operating for more than five decades, according to its website.

“We are really excited about it,” Daugherty said of the plans. “It’s going to be a challenge though, don’t get me wrong. But it can really expand the effect that we have and the benefit we have to folks.”

For the complete story, see Tuesday’s Republic.