FISH is putting out the call for more volunteers to deliver food to homebound seniors and distribute clothes to clients.
As pandemic benefits end, the nonprofit ministry’s food pantry, clothing and linen closets — like the rest of the nation’s assistance agencies — are continuing to see higher demand, including from more people experiencing homelessness.
In April, as part of a year-long pilot program with Lafayette-based Food Finders Food Bank, FISH launched a delivery service for people 60 and older who don’t have transportation to the pantry on the St. Bernard Catholic Church campus.
The program currently serves 30 people, up from seven in April. The food has been delivered twice a month by volunteers from Rock Point Church, whose commitment to the program ends next week. As a result, clients will receive just one delivery in October.
“We are thankful to show God’s love by supporting our community. We enjoy getting to know the clients each month and talking about their lives,” said Katie Gentry, one of the volunteers. “We would love to see it grow to help more people.”
FISH is seeking at least five teams of two people to continue delivering the food, mostly to clients in Crawfordsville. A few of the clients live in the surrounding towns.
“It’s so important because this program is so needed,” said Ellen Simpson, pantry coordinator.
“And our desire at FISH is to meet [clients] needs, but we have to have a volunteer base,” added Kara Kochell, the pantry’s new assistant.
Clients’ needs are changing as the pandemic wages on. As more people experiencing homelessness began seeking assistance, a local church donated toiletries to distribute.
And clients who receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, will be navigating changes to the program.
The Indiana Family & Social Services Administration recently announced that most SNAP participants will receive a slight increase in their monthly benefit in October, due to changes in the government’s formula for determining benefits.
But the change takes effect at the same time the 15% increase in SNAP benefits provided by federal coronavirus relief funds comes to an end.
The pantry’s hours are 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays and 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays. The pantry is housed in the Knights of Columbus building behind St. Bernard.
At the clothing closet in Wabash Avenue Presbyterian Church, coordinator Martha Adair says she wants enough workers to begin a rotating schedule of volunteers. There is a need for bilingual volunteers to assist Spanish-speaking clients.
The closet added hours from 1 to 3 p.m. on the third Saturdays of the month to meet the increasing demand for clothing. The closet is also open from 10 a.m. to noon Mondays and 3 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays. Clients can visit twice a month.
“We’re getting a lot of new people coming through now,” Adair said.
Towels, blankets and other linens are available from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursdays at the linen closet in First Baptist Church.
To volunteer, or for more information about the services, call the hotline at 765-362-FISH (6504).
