Fair donations will aid pantries

from the Indianapolis Star

Those attending county event are asked to bring canned goods to help the needy

By Tania E. Lopez

While fair food is a summer favorite for many who attend the Hamilton County 4-H Fair, one local community leader wants to shine the spotlight on residents who are struggling to feed their families.

That's why for the fourth consecutive year, Good Samaritan and 4-H leaders will conduct a 4-H CAN Make a Difference food drive during the fair, Thursday through Monday.

Nancy Chance, founder of Good Samaritan, said the food drive helps stock 32 local food pantries in preparation for back-to-school and the holidays.

"(In total), we don't get much (from the fair)," she said, but every bit helps.

Fairgoers may drop off nonperishables such as canned soup, vegetables, beans, peanut butter, pasta, cereal/oatmeal, powdered milk and rice at Hall B in the main Exhibition Center, said Kathleen Koch, 4-H youth development Extension educator.

"We do encourage our local 4-H families to bring at least one can," said Koch. "A little goes a long way."

Good Samaritan is the county's umbrella organization for 64 agencies and trustee offices that provide food, clothing and other services to residents who need help to meet their basic needs.

In 2006, census estimates showed 3.9 percent of people living in Hamilton County were below the poverty level.

Chance believes there are more.

Last year, Good Samaritan served 14,978 families who qualified for assistance. Families that apply for township aid also may get emergency food through referrals to local pantries.

Donations to Good Samaritan are down 25 percent this year, Chance said, pointing to high gas prices and the ailing economy as factors that hurt donations. She predicts the situation will worsen once students return to school.

"Hamilton County is supposed to be an affluent county, and it is, but there is a need," she said. The majority of families who get help from Good Samaritan are the working poor -- families that struggle financially to meet basic needs.

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