Mobile food pantry helps Tippecanoe County families

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - A mobile food pantry allowed 251 Tippecanoe County families to put food on their tables.

The colder temperatures and chilly winds didn't stop Tippecanoe County residents from shuffling through the line at Saturday's mobile food pantry.

The mobile pantry was put on by Lafayette's Food Finders Food Bank. Program coordinator Kristine Jansen said Food Finders came to Saturday's event fully prepared.

"Today, we brought 10,000 pounds of food, which is roughly enough to feed 280 households," said Jansen.

The event was held at the Congress Street United Methodist Church in Lafayette. That church partnered with West Lafayette's First United Methodist Church to host the event.

Lana Schmidt learned First United Methodist Church wanted to host the mobile food pantry event, so she decided to donate the money to make it all possible. She said she sponsored the event in honor of her father.

"Dad's a lifelong farmer. He's fed people all his life and continues to do so through his local food pantry. So we thought this would be a great way to honor him," said Schmidt.

Some of the items found at the mobile food pantry include frozen meat, canned goods, and even laundry detergent made by Food Finders.

Bianca Sharp lives in Lafayette and said she was grateful for the opportunity to walk through the line at the mobile food pantry. Sharp said times are tough and events like food pantries make life easier.

"For those who are less, you know what I'm saying, who really just don't have a whole lot, it just helps tremendously. It just helps the community in a big way," said Sharp.

The mobile food pantry was a self-declaration event. Each family was able to receive an average of 35 pounds of food.

Food Finders also hosted another mobile food pantry today in Logansport. That mobile food pantry helped feed 109 families in Cass County.