Food Pantry in 'dire' need

To the Editor:

I am writing in regard to our Clay County Emergency Food Pantry here in Clay County, Brazil, Ind.

We are in dire need of food for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays coming soon.

Our pantry is very low on food right now and Catholic Charities is very low on food and funding for all the food pantries in our surrounding counties.

We have many elderly people living in government housing with very low incomes.

We have single parent families with very little income and some working for minimum wage, which does not meet the needs of their children.

We have many individuals with families on disability income, which is not sufficient to feed their families after the necessary bills are paid.

With the donations we receive from local people, churches, anonymous donors and organizations, we buy food from the local stores, Aldi's, Page's and Kroger, which is on sale and try to give the people a healthy choice.

I am writing to ask for donations to help us get through the fall, Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays to meet the needs of the people of Clay County.

The following is a list of items we desperately need at this time: Meat (such as hot dogs, deer meat, chicken, ground beef, smoked sausage, chicken patties), dish soap, laundry soap, toilet paper, shampoo or just about anything that you would use in your home. Food stamps do not supply any bathroom or personal items, only food.

We also accept money to pay for these items.

The pantry is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m.-noon, and food is given out from 9-11:15 a.m., each day.

Clothing is given out the same hours except on Wednesday, when we clean in that area.

Our volunteers are always there to help with the needs of the people of Clay County and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for any help you can give us, large or small.

Sincerely,

Ruth Haas, Executive Director,

Clay County Emergency Food Pantry