ELKHART - Help for struggling Elkhart County residents came by the truckloads Tuesday.
Feed The Children — a Christian, international, nonprofit relief organization that delivers food and other necessities to families in need — rolled 13 semi-trucks through Elkhart. The stop was part of the “Americans Feeding Americans Emergency Caravan” food distribution tour.
Roughly 5,200 families in the area received food.
The national organization based out of Oklahoma City partnered with Granger Community Church to provide a box of food and personal care items to local residents in need. The boxes are meant to supplement a family for up to a week. Long-time Feed The Children partner STAR Touring & Riding Association, as well as UPS and Martin’s Supermarkets, had members on hand to assist with the distribution. Volunteers from Goshen College and students from various middle schools in this area also chipped in by taking food vouchers and delivering food to families in the northeast parking lot of the mall. Larry Jones, founder and president of Feed The Children, estimated there were roughly 400 volunteers throughout the day.
“When we announced what we were doing in Elkhart County,” Jones said, “the number of volunteers that wanted to help were through the roof.”
Jones said he was impressed by the number of young people who wanted to help.
Jones said there was approximately a half million pounds of food that was eventually distributed to local families with a market value of $2.1 million.
A press conference was held prior to the food distribution. Joel Osteen, author and pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, was on hand to deliver a message of hope. Elkhart Mayor Dick Moore also briefly spoke, thanking those who volunteered their time and efforts to help distribute food.
“Everybody is giving from their hearts,” Moore said. “The only thing that isn’t cooperating is the weather.”
It rained throughout the day, but temperatures were unseasonably mild.
Cars and trucks lined U.S. 33 in both directions and even backed up onto the U.S. 20 bypass as people waited to pick up the donated food. Distribution points were also set up around Elkhart County.
“This is one of the best turnouts I can remember,” said one of the several Feed The Children truck drivers in town for the day. “We did a lot of good today.”
The trucks lined the mall parking lot before 6 a.m. and began distributing food not long after that. According to the drivers, the food boxes at the Concord Mall ran out around 3 p.m. Still, minivans and compact cars with parents and children in them streamed into the parking lot. Through a rolled-down window they would ask if there was any food left. Sadly the drivers told them, “sorry, it’s all gone.”
There would be a brief look of disappointment before the families pulled away.
Moore told the crowd Tuesday morning that with President Barack Obama’s recent visit and the national coverage the area has received — including Tuesday as CNN and NBC Nightly News each had television crews on hand — the community should use this time as an opportunity to show the nation how resilient it can be.
“People are looking at us,” Moore said. “They are looking to see what we can do together.”
Jones wanted people throughout the county to know that better times are ahead and Feed the Children is there to help do its part.
“With this delivery, families can walk away from this event with renewed hope knowing that someone is there to help them weather this storm.”
Local News
Americans' generosity arrives by the truckload
<b>Food aid distributed to 5,200 local families</b>
- Local News
-
-
Jeep enters Depot building
A Jeep Grand Cherokee struck the main entrance of The Depot building, located at 1013 Division St., Goshen.
-
Reminisce days a big hit in Shipshewana
Diane Green and her aunt Lydia Moore drove from lower Illinois to Shipshewana Saturday morning to pick up quilting fabric.
-
Concert series to benefit ministry
It is summer and time for outdoor music. It is also the beginning of First Fridays — a concert series hosted by the local community ministry, Reason 4 Hope.
-
Planners like changes to CVS parking lot
Access to the CVS at 410 S. Main St. in Goshen could soon be easier for those with disabilities following a ruling by the Goshen Plan Commission Tuesday afternoon.
During their meeting Tuesday, Goshen Plan Commission members gave their blessing to a request by CVS Pharmacy and State Permits Inc. for a major change to the CVS Planned Unit Development that seeks to reconfigure the north portion of the parking lot to increase the overall Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility of the site. The final site plan for the PUD was also approved by the commission Tuesday, and the request will now be forwarded on to the Goshen City Council with a favorable recommendation. -
Council won’t fund school sidewalks
GOSHEN — Goshen City Council members voted along party lines Tuesday to defeat a proposal by Goshen Community Schools for a 50-50 cost split between the city and the school corporation to pay for a $125,000 sidewalk expansion project.
-
'Experience Michiana' segments to be taped in Goshen
The crew with WNIT program “Experience Michiana” is set to tape segments in Goshen this week. The segments will be broadcast June 27 and 28.
-
State officials warn people to be alert at fairs, festivals
The Indiana Department of Homeland Security and state police are reminding state residents to be alert for safety concerns when attending county fairs and other local festivals.
-
SLIDESHOW: Pets of the Week
Featured pets available for adoption at the Humane Society of Elkhart County.
-
Goshen officials donate former Hawks Building to LaCasa
An agreement between Goshen city government and LaCasa Inc. allowing for the donation of the former Hawks Building to the local non-profit was approved Monday.
-
LIBRARY NEWS: Reading programs underway
Summer reading programs for young people are underway at the Goshen library.
- More Local News Headlines
-
James Gandolfini Dies at Age 51
Fmr. TWA Flight 800 Investigators Want New Probe
Raw: Heat, Spurs Back on Court Ahead of Game 7
Dolce and Gabbana Convicted of Tax Evasion
Paris, Prince Depositions Used in Jackson Trial
Coiffed Cattle Get Their Close-up
In Berlin, Obama Channels Cold War Activism
Police at Patriots Tight End's Home for 2nd Day
Fed Suggests Bond Purchases Could Slow
AP: DOJ Broke Own Rules Seizing Phone Records
Raw: Baby White Rhino Debuts at Australian Zoo
Time Lapse: Rebuilding Bridge Post-collapse
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
