First relief fund grant goes to non-food pantry

Saturday, September 19, 2009
BannerGraphic/SHANNEN HAYES The Rev. Bill Wieland with St. Andrews Episcopal Church, left, and Alice and Rebecca Moore receive a $1,500 check from Eric Wolfe, director of community development for the Putnam County Community Foundation, for the first grant from the Putnam County Relief Fund. The money will benefit the non-food pantry at St. Andrews.

GREENCASTLE -- The Putnam County Community Foundation announced the first grant from the Putnam County Relief Fund has been awarded to the St. Andrews Episcopal Church's non-food pantry.

The $1,500 grant will be used to purchase non-food items such as paper products, cleaning supplies and personal hygiene items for needy families in Putnam County.

The Putnam County relief fund was established by an anonymous donor so the community could respond to urgent human needs in these tough economic times or times of community distress. Anyone interested in making a gift to the relief fund, can contact the PCCF office at 653-4978.

To date, more than $5.7 million in grants and scholarships have been awarded through PCCF to enrich the quality of life and strengthen the community for this and future generations.

The St. Andrew's Church non-food pantry is new this year and serves nearly 200 families each month, so far. They give items typically found in kitchens and bathrooms and are not covered by food stamps.

Distribution day is the last Saturday of each month.

"The non-food pantry has really grown in just a short amount of time and really fills a void for the neediest families in our community," said Eric Wolfe, director of community development for PCCF. "We are pleased we can support the pantry with the first relief fund grant."

"St. Andrews is grateful to the community foundation and its donors for helping provide much needed supplies to families over the next few months," said Mary Mountz, non-food pantry coordinator. "We hope others in the community will also consider support so we can meet all of the need going forward."

The Rev. Bill Wieland noted a lot of people have helped the pantry with goods and distribution, since the opening. "People who believe in these kinds of things have really showed their support," he said.

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