As many of us are blessed with the good fortune of a long holiday weekend of reflection, relaxation and leisure, it’s important to take a moment to think about those less fortunate right here in our community who don’t know where their next meal will come from.
That number of people is growing, according to Love Chapel and Salvation Army food pantries. They are the two largest organizations that deliver food to people in Columbus who need help on this basic survival level.
The number of people served at Love Chapel, 292 Center St., soared to more than 5,200 in April, Executive Director Kelly Daugherty told The Republic’s Andy East. That’s more than twice as many people as the food pantry served two years ago.
“I think the main reason is that our inflation has outpaced wages,” Daugherty said. “Wages are kind of stagnant, and everything is so much more expensive, whether it’s gas or food or any of our day-to-day items that we have to buy. I think it has caused a lot of people who were just barely making ends meet to have to have assistance to get by now.”
The story is the same at Salvation Army, 2525 Illinois St. Another 157 people sought help last month compared to March, when 1,078 people got help from the food bank.
“We have seen an increase in people needing food,” Nancy Johnson, social services manager at Salvation Army, told East. “My donations are, hopefully, holding out.”
Johnson said the food bank could use donations of peanut butter and canned pasta, describing those two items as “the things I’m most short on right now.”
And staples like those — canned goods and nonperishable dry goods — are among the items food pantries always need most. Check your cupboards, and if you have some to spare, consider helping out your neighbors in need by donating or learning about how you can volunteer to help.
An even better way to help those who need food assistance is to give money to organizations that have buying power and resources to really stretch a dollar. To donate or learn more about how you can help, look for information here:
Love Chapel: Visit columbuslovechapel.com/give-help or the Facebook page for Love Chapel — Ecumenical Assembly of Bartholomew County Churches. Here you can learn more about donating, volunteering or upcoming events such as the Altogether For Good 4-H Fair BBQ Night next month. Proceeds from the advance sale of $20 barbecue dinner tickets for this event at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fair support Love Chapel.
Salvation Army: Visit centralusa.salvationarmy.org/columbusIN or the Facebook page for Columbus Salvation Army. Links provide opportunities to donate or volunteer right here in your community.
Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana: Visit gleaners.org/waystogive to learn how you can support this agency that serves as a vital supply hub for food banks in our community and throughout the state. Gleaners provides food to nearly one-third of Hoosiers who need assistance.
Feeding America Network: Visit feedingamerica.org, a nationwide organization of food banks and community organizations that supports efforts to fight food insecurity.
The needs of the moment are great, but we believe the giving spirit of the people of our community is even greater.
