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GOD’s work ongoing
Hunger doesn’t take a holiday, and it certainly isn’t stopping because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Annunciation Catholic Church’s Food Pantry received some help in helping to make sure Clay County families do not have to go without food.
“One hundred percent of what we get goes back into providing food and helping people with the bills,” said the president of the local food pantry, Pat Hardman. “Especially with help from St. Vincent de-Paul Food Pantry, Catholic Charities in Terre Haute being so close to us, and even Jeff Bezos donating millions to Feeding America, that is all trickling down into our communities. It is a true blessing, especially during a time like this, to be able to help anybody and everybody in need.”
(Jeff Bezos is the founder of Amazon.)
The local food pantry regularly serves 40-50 families, but with the recent COVID-19 causing many people to be unemployed, it has increased the total to more than 75. The numbers are growing at each drive-thru event held Tuesdays from noon-2 p.m. on the north side of the Catholic School Building (19 N Alabama St.) just east of Annunciation Church on Church Street in Brazil.
“Our new truck was donated to us by St. Vincent de-Paul Food Pantry out of Indianapolis, and it has been a God-send,” said Hardman about the truck that picks up more food in one trip at a cheaper cost. “Now that we have it all cleaned up, painted, and fixed, we are going to be able to provide more help to those in need.”
Many of the volunteers are retired and come from a time where their families needed help while they were children.
“This is a full-court press by all these people. I’ve had to tell a few to go home for their safety and health, but they want to help,” said Hardman about the strong “servant’s heart” wanting to help anyone in need, to do God’s work. “This is a non-denominational effort by everyone here. They really are an amazing group of people.”
Participants can drive up to the food pantry on Blaine Street, volunteers wearing face coverings, and abiding by social distancing protocols by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will come to each vehicle to help fill out the necessary paperwork. Volunteers will help pack a variety of food items - including meat, fruit, and vegetables, and then load the food into the car. The free process takes approximately 10-15 minutes, according to the size of the household.
“I don’t know why people, especially those families with children, will not come to get help. That’s what all this is here for, and it’s free. We all want to give back to our community,” said Hardman. “There is no reason to be prideful right now. This money, this food is here to help everyone in need whenever they need it.”
President Pat Hardman urges people in need of assistance – either with food or to check on bill assistance - to call him at 812-531-3637, or stop by the next food pantry event.
