By JAN WAGNER
Correspondent
NEW PARIS —
The final numbers are in for the food collection challenge between the staff at New Paris Telephone Co. and Interra Credit Union and everybody is declared a winner.
In mid-July while talking with New Paris Telephone Co. employees, Sandi Sizemore, director of the Fairfield Food Pantry, expressed her concern over the bare shelves at the pantry. Those employees took the concerns to New Paris Telephone Chief Financial Officer Paul Penrose, and suggested a food challenge as a way to help.
Penrose contacted Dave Parsons, manager of the local Interra Credit Union and issued a challenge. The businesses would compete to see who could collect the most for the food pantry based on total weight by the first day of school for the Fairfield system.
Each business posted signs, ran an ad on the local cable television station and announced the competition in the community news column of The Goshen News. Local residents responded immediately and generously.
The staff at Interra Credit Union in Millersburg joined in the competition also and the total weight collected between the two credit union locations was 731 pounds. They also accepted cash donations, which were just short of $500.
At New Paris Telephone, the total weight collected was 883 pounds.
Sizemore was very pleased with the results.
“They did a fabulous job,” she said. “The clients even noticed a difference in the supplies. Some even mentioned that there were treat items, such as cookies, which are usually not plentiful here.”
The monetary contributions are greatly appreciated also. Sizemore said she uses the money to make purchases from the Northern Indiana Food Bank.
“Most items can be purchased by the case much more reasonably than shopping at the store,” she said. “And they deliver, which is much cheaper for us than going out shopping.”
The pantry director continues to be thankful for the ongoing support of churches, clubs and service organizations she said.
According to Sizemore 131 families were served last year, with repeat visits by most of them.
Both locations will continue to accept donations.
Families wishing to visit the pantry must live in the Fairfield Community School system, but it is not necessary to have children attending school. To set up an appointment to visit the food pantry, contact Sizemore at 831-2192 or 831-2184.
