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Emergency Food Pantry

With the continued unemployment and economic crisis, more and more families are finding it impossible to stretch the food budget throughout the month.

Our food pantry served an average of 600 families per month in 2013. Family size has also grown due to many families moving in together to save costs.

We are deeply appreciative of the donations YOU provide.

 

Lakeland Christian Academy Students and Staff recently held their annual food drive for CCS and stocked our shelves with over 11,000 pounds of food!

The flyers they passed out before the drive included items needed for  the focus we have on also offering healthy foods.

We received many low fat, sugar free, gluten free, and low sodium foods.

 

 

Donate to our Food Pantry!

Our food pantry has more than just food and USDA Commodities. When donations allow, CCS is able to offer other items such as paper products, hygiene products, and cleaning supplies!

Your food donations help us feed an ever increasing number of families.

Monetary donations are also accepted. Your monetary donation allows us to purchase food at local groceries and from the Northern Indiana Food Bank. Donations for food can also be made in our name at the Food Bank in South Bend, Indiana. Your designated donation to the food bank will be put into our account. The Food Bank of Northern Indiana also delivers USDA Commodities to our Emergency Food Pantry.

Contact Peggi at pwright@combinedcommunityservices.org or Bill at bleslie@combinedcommunityservices.org for more information on donating to our pantry or making a monetary donation on our behalf to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana.

 

Facts about our Emergency Food Pantry

In 2011, an average of 545 households received food from the pantry each month. Visits to the food pantry are generally limited to one time per month. To date in 2013, that number has grown to over 600 families per month.

With the change to a Client Choice/Heathy Food pantry in March 2013, we are seeing an even greater need.

Food in the pantry is provided through generous donations by individuals, annual food drives (Food-A-Thon, Stamp Out Hunger, Lakeland Christian Academy food drive), and donations from schools, churches, and business food drives, USDA Commodities, and from The Northern Indiana Food Bank. Owens on Market Street provides us with bread products and Little Ceasar's Pizza donates pizzas to us.

We are working with area Farmer's Market and other fresh produce providers to have fresh vegetables and fruits available in season. The Farm has given corn for over 7 years, and other farmers have committed to bringing their excess produce to us.

 

Jay Michaels, Willie 103.5 and Alexis Light collecting food at Martin's Supermarket during Foodathon

 

Support Staff and Volunteers manage the daily operations of the pantry. Donations to our emergency food pantry come in all shapes and sizes! From local preschool children who bring a can of food to donate, to the annual WRSW Food-A-Thon. Your donations of food and/or funding are the reason we are able to serve those in need!  If you would like more information about making a food donation or having a food drive for CCS, please call Peggi at ext. 222, or email pwright@combinedcommunityservices.org Bill at bleslie@combinedcommunityservices.org

Current Needs for the Food Pantry

Canned Soup including Low Sodium

Peanut Butter & Jelly

Fat Free or Natural Peanut Butter

Sugar Free Jelly

Whole Grain Cereal

Gluten Free Pancake Mix

Sugar Free Syrup

Pancake Mix 

Syrup

Heart Healthy Pastas

Spaghetti  Pasta

Egg Beaters

Yogurt

Canned Fruit

Macaroni & Cheese

Tuna in Water

Personal Hygiene Products

 

AND volunteers!