‘Food Network’ launched to expand supply, meet demand in Elkhart County

By Ed Ernstes (ernstes@wsbt.com)

Tools

Elkhart County Food Network and Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center food drive

Employees of the Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center in Elkhart load over 100 boxes of food onto a truck for three area food pantries. The United Way of Elkhart County is launching the "Elkhart County Food Network" to try to streamline the food drive and donation process and help meet the growing need in the county. (WSBT photo)

By Beth Boehne

ELKHART — Local food pantries are seeing more demand these days. That's especially true in Elkhart County. So the United Way is working on a new program to allow pantries to team up.

It's efforts like the one at the Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Center (OSMC) that help supply local food pantries. The staff there completed a food drive that will send over 100 boxes of food to three food pantries in Elkhart County.

“This year with the economy we really felt strong that the food banks needed some help, so that's what we did,” explained Jaime Wrigley of OSMC. “We took $2,000 of the money that we collected and went out and bought donations of food."

Everyone pitched in.

"We have about 150 employees, 140 some odd boxes," said Don Hammond, CEO of OSMC. "I couldn't be more happy.”

It’s grassroots efforts like this that help replenish food pantries around the county. But with the state of the economy the way it is, there is expected to be a bigger demand on food pantries around the area.

The Elkhart County United Way has come up with an idea to help. It is forming the Elkhart County Food Network. Composed of five food pantries — Elkhart Salvation Army, Goshen Salvation Army, Faith Mission of Elkhart, Church Community Services and Family Christian Development Center of Nappanee — it is being set up to raise awareness about hunger. It will also make efforts to streamline donations and area food drives.

“We want to increase cooperation between area food pantries, to share food, to work together to raise food, to make sure that we can get everybody who is hungry a meal, or a bag of groceries to be able to meet the needs of their families,” said Darren Bickle of the United Way of Elkhart County.

They hope to make it easier to identify and supply families with food, and make it easier for them to obtain it.

"We're trying to spread out all over the county, to make those connections, so there is a site close to everybody,” Bickle said.

The United Way plans to unveil the new Elkhart County Food Network program Monday.

Thursday, Nov 20 at 4:13 PM c wrote ...

Michelle Sommers. No nannies are not free. I had to pay mine.Of course I wanted to stay home with my child, but not on welfare. I Missed her first step. I hated going to work every day. I hated making her cry when I disaplined her too, but it had to be done. As her parent I had to make sure she was clothed, sheltered and fed. I had her not the community. I do agree at times people need the extra hand. Its the ones who have been on food stamps and medicaid for yrs and perg.again that bother me.

Thursday, Nov 20 at 9:58 AM Michelle Sommers wrote ...

HOw many people are hungry in Elkhart? Did you count? Of course women should work too. They are not crippled or are have a mental defect. But whos gona care for the children who are babies and some of them are school age. We want to flip burgers too like a lot of moms do today to support their growing family. Also we want to see our babies grow up and be wonderful persons. Should we ask for nannies at Faith Missios. There are no nannies for free.

Wednesday, Nov 19 at 10:56 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I just want to add that if you donate food or a toy to the BoRics on CR 6 you will receive $2 off your next service... I took advantage of that today. The toys are for Toys for Tots and the food is going to Faith Mission of Elkhart

Wednesday, Nov 19 at 9:20 PM c wrote ...

You sound as if the moms cant go out and get a job too. By the way yes I am a single mom. I beleive all able bodied adults should work. Even if its mowing yards or shoveling. My 16 yr old even has 2 jobs. 1 flipping burgers, 2 baby sitting.

Wednesday, Nov 19 at 5:28 PM Carman Roswell wrote ...

All the Salvation Armies of America should be involved in this effort to feed a lot of hungry people. They dont peddle out in the streets because it so cold and no one will give anything anyway. But if churches of Christ and all Lutherans and Catholics also get together and raise can food and other items that will help solve the problem lots of moms are having. Whatever the dad earns goes to pay utilities and the rent or morgages. The rest is not enough to by a nice meal at any restaurant.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 500 Characters Left

WSBT and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, or remove user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum. Items that may be considered inappropriate to post are those containing profanity, hatred, or insensitive, vulgar, unlawful or threatening comments.

WSBT Weather

icon
Current Temp 26
°
More Weather
More On Demand

Stock Quotes

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Tonight On WSBTFull Schedule

7.00
Wheel of Fortune
7.30
Jeopardy!
8.00
Ghost Whisperer
9.00
Flashpoint
10.00
Numb3rs
11.00
WSBT News
11.35
Late Show with David Letterman

Question of The Day

Will 2009 be a better year for the RV industry?

E-mail your comments. We'll pick some to read during WSBT News at 5.

  • Yes
  • No