The Marshall County Commissioners took action to help fund food bank efforts to keep Marshall County residents fed.
Marshall County Community Foundation and United Way of Marshall County Executive Director Linda Yoder told the commissioners on Monday morning that the Northern Indiana Food Bank has offered nine bonus food distribution events in Marshall County since mid-April.
“Right now they’re preparing for a capacity of 500 per drop and those cost about $6,000 per week,” stated Yoder. “About 1,569 households have been served by those food drops in the first nine weeks. There are 607 individuals that have received assistance. We have three more scheduled coming up in Bremen on June 18, in Plymouth on June 25, and in Culver on July 2.”
Yoder commented that it is a $72,000 total investment from the Northern Indiana Food Bank for these bonus food distributions.
The demand for food assistance was strong at the beginning of COVID-19 shutdowns. Yoder said that the demand dwindled a bit with stimulus money and unemployment benefits available, but it is starting to increase again.
The Fund the Essentials program has awarded over $60,000 to local organizations with $45,783 of that to assist food pantries and organizations supplying food to those in need of that assistance.
Commission President Kevin Overmyer said that July 1 will be the end in the moratorium for residents concerning utility bills which could hit some households hard. Shutoffs could occur if those bills are not paid. With a concern of residents going hungry, Overmyer asked his fellow commissioners to designate funds for food assistance.
“I’d like to make a recommendation that maybe we give $20,000 to Fund the Essentials but have it designated for the Food Bank,” stated Overmyer. “If we need to come back at a later date then we can do some more.”
Commissioner Stan Klotz stated, “We’ve got to take care of the people. I make that motion.”
“And I’ll second that motion that $20,000 be designated for food,” stated Commissioner Mike Burroughs.
That motion passed with a unanimous vote.
The funds will come from the COVID-19 line items in the budget. Overmyer noted that the funds designated for food can be reimbursed through the CARES Act.
