COME & MAKE A DIFFERENCE, as The Salvation Army of Michigan City and La Porte, First Trust Credit Union, Al’s Supermarkets, WIMS radio, La Porte Community School Corporation, and Michigan City Area Schools celebrate 22 years of hosting the “STUFF A BUS” food drive for The Salvation Army’s food pantry. Through today Oct. 3, you can make a monetary donation or donate non-perishable food items at First Trust’s Michigan City Branch at 950 E. U.S. Highway 20 and 402 J Street in La Porte. In addition, on Saturday, October 4th, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., volunteers will be filling Michigan City and La Porte school buses with bags of food donated by YOU (the local community) at Al’s Supermarkets Franklin St. & Karwick Road in Michigan City and on Lincolnway in La Porte. You can donate now or come to the Stuff A Bus event on October 4th to purchase much needed meat vouchers and/or pre-packed bags of groceries for families in need. Major Becky Simmons of The Salvation Army of Michigan City stated, “Typically we serve around 600 families each month though our food pantry.” Simmons added that according to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap (FY22), 102,260 (12%) of neighbors including 32,860 (18.3%) children in northern Indiana are food insecure. What better time is there to do our part and HELP feed our own community? The Salvation Army is very grateful for all the community partners who have worked together the past 22 years to make this event a success each year. Al’s Supermarkets is the location host for the event, and they work with food suppliers to purchase the products that fill the pre-packed $6 bags which are assembled prior to the event. This year the $6 bags and $5 meat vouchers will be ready to purchase and donate ahead of the event. This is convenient for folks who want to donate but can’t attend the actual event.
Please come out and support the STUFF A BUS event, by making food or monetary donations at First Trust Credit Union now, or by attending the event. Daniel Rajsic (pronounced “rice itch”), Chief Information Officer at First Trust Credit Union, said, “With food prices increasing and public assistance reductions, assisting with the organization of this event is humbling and we take it very seriously …there’s always a huge need in our community at this time of year. They’d like to encourage local businesses and the general public to come out and make a donation.” He added, “It’s truly an honor to organize and volunteer at this event each year to show our community the credit union philosophy of “People Helping People”.” For more information,or if you would like to volunteer at the event, please contact Jessica O’Brien (The Salvation Army of Michigan City) at (219) 874-6885, or Daniel Rajsic (First Trust Credit Union) at (219) 877-2299.