Northern Indiana Community Foundation Hosts Food Pantry Summit to Help End Hunger
Rochester, Ind.—The Northern Indiana Community Foundation, Inc. (NICF) held its third annual Food Pantry Summit on Oct. 16 at the Geneva Center in Rochester. The purpose of the event was to gather representatives from food pantries serving Starke, Fulton, and Miami Counties in order for them to share information and resources. More than 40 were in attendance, representing 22 organizations.
Panelists at the Food Pantry Summit discussed what the Purdue Extension Offices can offer to food pantries. The individuals on the panel included Debra Winter, Family Nutrition Program Assistant IV, covering Pulaski and Starke Counties; Betsy Hines, Purdue Extension Community Wellness Coordinator, covering Fulton, Cass, and Carroll Counties; Angela Braden, NEP Community Wellness Coordinator, serving Miami County; and Deborah Mix, NEP Community Wellness Coordinator, serving Starke County.
Jeff Newton, Executive Director of Kokomo Urban Outreach, also presented information to the group about food co-ops, a different strategy to help relieve hunger. Newton shared his experience transitioning from a traditional food pantry to a food co-op.
Informational materials were provided for individuals to take back to their organizations. Attendees also had time during the event to ask questions and to discuss with one another how they can work together to better serve their communities.
Lunch for the event was prepared by the Geneva Center and was sponsored by the Hardesty Memorial Endowment Fund of the Starke County Community Foundation and by the Fulton County Community Foundation, fund affiliates of the NICF.
The event was part of the NICF’s efforts to foster partnerships between local nonprofits in order for them to share resources and better serve the communities of Fulton, Miami, and Starke Counties.
For more information, contact Corinne Becknell Lucas, Northern Indiana Community Foundation Associate Director, toll free at 877-432-6423 or by email at corinne@nicf.org.
