News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Local & Bistate

Related Photos

  • Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Peanut butter and...: Alex Vincent, center, of Terre Haute's St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, grabs a case of jelly from Ben Bush as Sandy Bush hands her husband another box of food Wednesday at Baesler's. At lower left is Bill Hughes.

    MET 060612 SA VINCENT.jpg

  • Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Gordon Hoag, captain of the Salvation Army.

    MET 060612 SA HOAG.jpg

  • Tribune-Star/Joseph C. Garza Filling those empty shelves: Volunteer Jarod Anderson, 12, places a box of food on top of a shelf at the Salvation Army on Wednesday.

    MET 060612 SA ANDERSON.jpg

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable as well as posts that are attacking other users. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
comments powered by Disqus
June 7, 2012

Feeding a Need: Effort will help feed children during summer away from school

Sue Loughlin The Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — At Baesler’s Market on Wednesday, volunteers from St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and ResCare loaded cases of macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, cereal and other food into trucks.

That food was taken to the Salvation Army, where it was added to the agency’s food pantry.

The goal is to help needy families feed their school-age children this summer, said Rev. Joseph Chillington of St. Stephen’s. More than half of the children in Vigo County schools qualify for either free- or reduced-price lunches.

“But when school is out, they don’t have access to those meals,” he said. “Pantries such as the Salvation Army are the way their parents can feed them during the summer.”

For more than a dozen years, St. Stephen’s parishioners have helped stock and staff the Salvation Army pantry. This year, the church has committed $2,000 raised at a parish rummage sale, and individual parishioners have added to that amount.

St. Stephen’s, 215 N. Seventh St., purchased the food wholesale from Baesler’s and then donated it to the Salvation Army pantry. Baesler’s also “supplements what we provide,” Chillington said.

The church hopes other churches and individuals will do the same. “There is a continuing need in our community,” he said. “We have so many children who depend on assistance for their nutrition.”

The assistance is needed and appreciated, said Capt. Gordon Hoag of the Salvation Army. “It really makes a difference,” he said.

Vigo County has one of the highest poverty rates in Indiana, he said.

He noted that this time of year, donations to the agency tend to decline, yet the need for food increases now that children are out of school.

“It’s very timely for us that St. Stephen’s is willing to help us out,” Hoag said.

This week, a new study released by Feeding America shows that children continue to struggle with hunger in every county in the nation with nearly one in four in Indiana at risk of going hungry.

The study, “Map the Meal Gap: Child Food Insecurity 2012” gives a one-of-a-kind look at the occurrence of children living on the brink of hunger in the U.S. at a county and congressional district level.

In Indiana, the report finds that 22.7 percent, or an estimated 358,120 Hoosier children, may not know from where their next meal will come. Individual Indiana counties ranged from 26.9 percent in Miami and Starke counties, to 14.5 percent in Hamilton County, to 25.4 percent in Vigo County.

An estimated 5,750 children in Vigo County would be considered food insecure, according to the study. Food insecurity means, as a result of a lack of income or other resources, that household members do not have access to food at all times to maintain a healthy diet.

On Wednesday morning, St. Stephen’s and ResCare volunteers did their part to help combat child hunger.

Among those assisting with loading and unloading food were seven residents of ResCare, which operates a program for juvenile boys. One of the volunteers, 15-year-old Dakota, said he wanted “to help out people in need.”

He said he realized his efforts can have a positive impact on other people’s lives, “and that makes me feel good about myself.”

The Salvation Army uses poverty guidelines to determine those who qualify for food baskets, Hoag said. Those in need can call the Salvation Army starting at 8:30 a.m. Monday through Friday to receive a referral number. Its pantry is open Tuesday through Friday, but it also works with other food pantries in the community.

 The Salvation Army, 234 S. Eighth St., can be reached at (812) 232-4081.

Reporter Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local & Bistate
Latest News
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
AP Video
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma Raw: Widespread Destruction in Moore, Okla. Raw: Rescue Workers Search Oklahoma School Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma Raw: Aftermath of Massive Tornado in Oklahoma Active Search for Utah Missing Mom Ends Huge Tornado Kills Dozens Near Oklahoma City Raw: Aerials Show Path of Oklahoma Destruction Voters Could Elect LA's First Female Mayor Raw: Rescuers Pull Tornado Survivors to Safety Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul Raw: Aussie Zoo Shows Off White Rhino Calf Oklahoma Gov: 'Hearts Are Broken' After Tornado Raw: Walking in a Flattened Okla. Neighborhood Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims Horse Saved From Slaughter, Goes on to Win Big MLB Hoping for Large Replay Expansion in 2014 Raw: Witness Describes Scene After Okla. Tornado America's Cup Officials Say Race Will Continue Raw: Suspects Butt Dial 911, Lead to Arrest
NDN Video
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal Arias Tells Jury What She'd Do if She Gets Life The all-new Xbox One RAW: Massive tornado strikes Oklahoma VIDEO: Teacher reunites mother and son after tornado levels elementary school in Oklahoma City Okla. tornado survivor finds dog buried alive under rubble Jennifer Lawrence Gets Naked and Painted Blue as X-Men's Mystique Pickler's Dance Moves Cause A Stir Obama to tornado survivors: The country stands beside you Reporter Cries Over Devastation Sneak Peek: 'Modern Family' Says Good Bye Trailer: 'The Last Stand' Available on Blu-ray Disc, DVD, Digital Download IWitness Look at Moore, OK Tornado RAW: Moore, OK tornado touches down near school Robert Pattinson Moves Out RAW: Russian dash cam catches car 20 feet in the air Oklahoma tornado survivor: "Everything is gone" Khloe Lashes Out at Kim Kardashian's Critics Couple Argues As Woman's Lover Crawls Out Window RAW: Brad Paisley Forgets Lyrics To His Own Song
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

     

    March 12, 2010

activity
Real Estate News