St. Andrew's welcomes DePauw student program as partner in Non-Food Pantry

Saturday, February 11, 2012

St. Andrew's Episcopal Church has welcomed the students in the DePauw Community Service program as partners in the work of the Putnam County Non-Food Pantry.

Students Sharon Maes, Courtney Crosby and Sandra Bertin helped out in late January. These students encouraged other DePauw students to join them in supporting the project. At the DePauw Community Service Fair, 23 students expressed interest in the program.

These students will help transporting cases of items for the pantry, as well as organizing the pantry, preparing the bags for the clients and distributing items. They also plan to have a drive to collect donations to the pantry from the DePauw students.

Maes, Crosby and Bertin will serve as the coordinators of the DePauw group.

The organizers of the pantry appreciate the students' willingness to work with this project.

In the month of January the Pantry also had help from the 4-H group led by Gayle Hansen and donations collected by the FFA at North Putnam and South Putnam High Schools and Putnam County Hospital led by Jennifer Bedwell, along with several contributions and donations by individuals in the community.

The poverty level in Putnam County has grown to 13.1 percent overall and 17 percent among children 18 years and younger. In the month of January they pantry served more than 130 households, so community assistance is always needed.

The pantry needs items such as paper products, household cleaners, personal toiletry items and baby and toddler care items.

Pantry volunteers are happy to receive donations at the church office, 520 E. Seminary St., Tuesday through Friday. They will also pick up items.

Monetary donations are welcome as the pantry is then able to purchase products at lower prices by buying in bulk.

Contact persons include Mary Mountz at 655-2113, Joan Davis at 653-3445, Martha Rainboltat 653-8060 and the St. Andrew's Church office at 653-3921.

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