Hoosier Hills Food Bank initiates new donation program

With the economy in its current dire state and the price of food and fuel rising, many families are running out of funds to support themselves and are in need of any type of assistance, especially food.\nFor this reason, Hoosier Hills Food Bank has begun a new mobile pantry distribution program in hopes of providing some relief to families in need in and around Lawrence County. According to the press release, the program is made possible through a grant from Charity Project Entertainment Fund’s “Idol Gives Back” campaign and America’s Second Harvest.\nHoosier Hills Food Bank Resource Development Coordinator Jennie Rasmussen sees a bigger need for food among smaller communities. “A goal we have is we want to increase food to rural counties,” she said. “Lawrence County has the highest unemployment rate out of any other county in our service area. We really want to focus on reaching out to those types of counties and getting food to children.”\nThe effort began last month in the parking lot of the Limestone Girls Club, where Families First provided about 30 pounds of food out of the back of a truck for families in need. Though the turnout was low due to bad weather, Rasmussen remains optimistic.\n“The weather last time was terrible. We’re hoping for a better turnout next time without any bad weather, and the chance to continue to get the word out. It’s hard to do in the summertime,” she said. “We hope to expand the Families First program as time goes on.”\nGwen Turner of the Limestone Girls Club believes the facility is a great place for a program such as Families First to distribute food and sees it as a great opportunity to help others in the community. \n“What better place is there? This is where families (in need) come. Many of our kids come from families that could use their services,” explained Turner. “We wanted to be a visible form of support and try to reach the community as much as possible.”\nTurner hopes the food drive will progress to handing out food more than once a month.\nAnother partner in Hoosier Hill’s effort to help families is United Way of Central Indiana, which is well known for providing vital human services. The organization helps fund food banks like Hoosier Hills Food Bank and their projects.\nFamilies First will be in Bedford on Tuesday in the parking lot of Limestone Girls Club, 2009 19th St., from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Families must present a valid I.D. in order to receive food.