TERRE HAUTE —
Hundreds of Terre Haute-area families will have food in their homes this week thanks to Feed the Children and Covenant Cooperative Ministries.
Dozens of people stood in line outside the Covenant Ministries facility on South 101⁄2 Street on Wednesday awaiting food, bottled water and personal hygiene packages. Covenant volunteers using hand dollies wheeled the donated items to each person’s car.
“Thank God they’re here,” said Lori, a grandmother from West Terre Haute who said Wednesday was her first time receiving assistance from Covenant Cooperative Ministries.
Another first-time visitor to Covenant Cooperative Ministries for assistance was Bobbie Murphy, a young mother who was experiencing tough times recently because of a temporary job loss. Fortunately, she said, she is returning to her former employer this week.
A majority of the approximately 400 families receiving assistance Wednesday were at Covenant Cooperative Ministries for the first time, said Rose Aycock, volunteer executive director of CCM.
“We knew that the families here in this area really need the help,” Aycock said. “Food prices have gone up. That makes it tough to keep food on the shelves.”
About 15 volunteers helped distribute the semitrailer-load of food and hygiene materials to the hundreds of people seeking help. Families receiving the aid had been pre-screened to see that they qualified for assistance, Aycock said.
“We’re doing this to show them the love of the kingdom of God,” said Tracy W. Hamilton, a pastor with His Image Ministries and a long-time CCM volunteer. “If we can give them just a light of hope, maybe tomorrow will be the day they have been waiting for.”
Each family received a case of bottled water, a 25-pound box of food and a 10-pound box of personal care items. The boxes should last a family of four for up to one week, according to Feed the Children, an Oklahoma City-based not-for-profit organization.
About one in four children in Terre Haute is considered to be living in poverty, said Mark Opgrande, a spokesman for Feed the Children. His group, which has one of its six U.S. distribution centers in northern Indiana, generally provides help in communities where approximately 25 percent of children are living below the national poverty line, he said.
Many of the people receiving assistance from Feed the Children considered themselves middle class just a year or two ago, Opgrande noted. Many have suffered job losses or other difficulties that have forced them to seek assistance for the first time.
Last year, Feed the Children provided more than 104 million pounds of food and other essentials to children and their families in all 50 states and around the world.
Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
Local & Bistate
Related Photos
-
Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza This one will be fed: Bobbie Murphy holds her son, 3-month-old Michael DeBouse, as she waits in line for the Feed the Children food distribution Wednesday at Covenant Cooperative Ministry at 122 S. 101⁄2 St.
-
Helping a family: Curt Hamilton wheels a Feed The Children pack out to the car of a recipient Wednesday at out the Covenant Cooperative Ministry warehouse. Tribune-Star/ Joseph C. Garza
Discussion
Food distribution a delivery of hope
Feed the Children teams with Covenant Cooperative Ministry to help 400 families
- Local & Bistate
-
-
Relic from another age: Massive find
A mastodon that lived in the Wabash Valley thousands of years ago is making big news today.
-
Game Over: Financial tightening causes VCSC to drop St. Patrick’s from athletic schedule
St. Patrick’s School athletic teams will not have an opportunity to compete against their Vigo County School Corp. middle school counterparts next year.
-
Katelyn Newell finally at home
After nearly five months, 8-year-old Katelyn Newell finally returned home Thursday evening — with a new heart.
-
Indiana State U. Police officer honored with Artz Award
Thursday was a special day for Indiana State University Police Officer Christopher Heleine in multiple ways.
-
City Council considering three for consultant
Three different tax professionals vied Thursday for a chance to become a “financial consultant” to the Terre Haute City Council.
-
Clay County sheriff warns of bank card scam
The Clay County Sheriff’s Department has received information regarding a scam targeting residents, according to a news release from the sheriff’s department.
-
State Police seek help with Sullivan County homicide
Indiana State Police detectives from the Putnamville Post are seeking help from the public with the nearly six-month investigation into the death of 85-year-old Lowell R. Badger, a rural Sullivan County farmer.
-
Man who attacked Vigo deputy arrested
A Terre Haute man accused of attacking a Vigo County sheriff’s deputy earlier this week is facing felony charges in the Vigo County jail.
-
INDOT to bid final 641 phase
The final construction phase of the 641 bypass is scheduled to let for bids on Dec. 11, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation.
-
District office moves north
The Southwest District office of the Purdue Extension service has been moved north from Vincennes to Terre Haute.
-
Day is done…
The sun sets Thursday evening as seen from south of Terre Haute.
-
Morning update: I-5 bridge collapse caused by truck hitting span
The Washington State Patrol chief says the Interstate 5 bridge collapse into the Skagit (SKA'-jiht) River at Mount Vernon was caused by an oversize truck.
-
UPDATE: I-70 lanes in Putnam County now open
The west-bound lanes of Interstate 70 re-opened Thursday evening after being temporarily closed due to a crash near the Greencastle/Cloverdale exit.
-
22-hospital St. Vincent Health cutting jobs
INDIANAPOLIS — One of Indiana’s largest health systems says it’s cutting an undisclosed number of jobs by June 30 because of increasing economic and competitive pressure on the health care industry.
-
Update: Cleanup from overturned truck in Greene County continues
Fuel spillage from the dump truck hauling gravel that overturned this morning in Greene County at Indiana 54 and County Road 725 East near Ridgeport continues to restrict traffic to one lane.
-
17-pound bone found during Vigo flood cleanup
TERRE HAUTE — Crews cleaning up from Wabash River flooding in Vigo County came across a 17-pound bone that they believe might have come from an ancient mastodon.
-
Duke Energy gives $10K to Wabash Valley Red Cross for Vigo flood relief
Duke Energy is giving $10,000 to the Wabash Valley Red Cross chapter for flood relief from this spring’s heavy rains.
-
I-70 Frye Road overpass contract awarded; construction to begin May 28
The Indiana Department of Transportation has announced the Interstate-70 Frye Road overpass contract was awarded to Halverson Construction Co. Inc. from Springfield, Ill., for $317,166.
-
Banks of the Wabash Festival is more than just yearly entertainment
Pioneers think counterintuitively. Where others see widespread apathy, they focus on the possibility for progress. In a way, the 2013 Year of the River celebration began in the 1970s.
-
Planning session aims to better Terre Haute
It’s not yet clear what will come of it, but dozens of community leaders spent the whole day Wednesday trying to develop a plan – or collection of plans – to make Terre Haute “a better community.”
-
Education funding boost won’t benefit all schools
In the budget bill passed by the General Assembly last month, there is more money allocated for K-12 education over the next two years, but that doesn’t mean every school will get more dollars.
- Day of Action job options open
-
Park Board renames land around Memorial Stadium
Land surrounding Indiana State University’s Memorial Stadium on Terre Haute’s east side has been designated as Veterans Memorial Park, following a unanimous vote Wednesday from the Terre Haute Park Board.
-
Deputy suffers minor injury during incident
A Vigo County Sheriff’s deputy received a minor injury to his hand Tuesday night while subduing a drunken driving suspect who fled behind a North Terre Haute business.
-
Man accused of child neglect gets new trial date
An Oct. 15 trial date has been set for a Terre Haute man arrested in November for child neglect after he and his wife allegedly tied up and confined their adopted children in the family home.
-
Police find meth labs, arrest Pierson Township man
Police uncovered two active methamphetamine labs in southeastern Vigo County on Monday, leading to the arrest of a Pierson Township man.
-
New date set for attempted murder trial
A new trial date has been set for a Terre Haute woman charged with attempted murder.
-
Illinois Senate approves sex education bill
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A proposal that revamps sex education in Illinois public schools to include information about contraception and sexually transmitted diseases has cleared the state Senate.
-
Gregg pondering 2nd run for Indiana governor
INDIANAPOLIS — Former Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Gregg is pondering another run at the state's top job, but has yet to make a decision.
-
Illinois senator apologizes for Nazi remark
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Sen. Donne Trotter has apologized for remarks that compared a member of Gov. Pat Quinn’s cabinet to a Nazi.
- More Local & Bistate Headlines
-
Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Gay Boys
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Obama Renews Call to Close Gitmo
Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Oklahoma Family Reflects on Lost Son
Chain-Reaction School Bus Crash Injures About 50
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
Raw: 80-Year-Old Climbs Mount Everest
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
