FISH

Volunteers are heart of pantry

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FISH of Montgomery County works daily to clothe the needy, provide household linens to our neighbors and feed hungry neighbors in our community.

Here’s the FISH Challenge for February: FISH challenges the community to collect canned soups throughout February and donate them to the pantry. Are you hosting a Super Bowl gathering? Ask your friends to bring canned soup to share! Churches — how about a Souper Bowl challenge for your congregation? And please, throw in boxes of crackers and jars of peanut butter and jelly to go with that soup!

If you are curious about how FISH actually works, here’s a dive into the operational nuts and bolts of the FISH food pantry, located at 1306 E. Main St. 

Do you ever open your cupboard or pantry and wonder what’s become of food that was there just a day or two ago? Many Montgomery County neighbors face this issue week after week. Stretching their resources to feed a family is a constant struggle. 

What to do? About 450 of our neighbors rely on the FISH Food Pantry to help nourish themselves and their families. Pantry Director Ellen Simpson and a handful of hard-working volunteers open the doors Tuesday through Friday, extending a helping hand to neighbors in need. Neighbors can “shop” the shelves and freezers a couple of times each month for nutritious items that suit their needs. 

But wait — where does all that food come from? FISH relies on the generosity of individuals, organizations, businesses and churches for both in-kind and monetary donations.  The pantry receives some government commodities. Food is purchased at full price from grocery stores and at a discount from Food Finders, a distribution warehouse used by non-profits. Community-sponsored food drives throughout the year help to supplement the pantry. Grants are sometimes awarded to FISH as well.  But the need keeps growing and we scramble every month to fill the shelves.

Because the pantry must purchase eggs and milk, we can’t afford to offer them regularly. And fresh fruits and veggies are a rare treat in the cold months.

It’s true that volunteers are the very heart of FISH, and we always need extra hands. Volunteers stock the shelves, unload deliveries, assist the shoppers, haul the recyclables, empty trash and pick up donations from some businesses. It’s often heavy work, and many of our volunteers are well into their retirement years. If you can donate a couple of hours, we can use you. Call Simpson at 765-362-3474, follow us on Facebook or write to P.O. Box 261, Crawfordsville IN 47933.

FISH depends on the community’s support. Together we can help our neighbors as they struggle to provide for their families. Thank you for your continuing generosity.

 

Elaine Chase contributed this column for FISH of Montgomery County.


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