{"id":18811,"date":"2024-11-19T17:54:54","date_gmt":"2024-11-19T17:54:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vasinvictor.com\/DEVfoodbank\/?p=18811"},"modified":"2025-01-24T19:54:04","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T19:54:04","slug":"community-owned-food-pantry-in-gary-helps-feed-thousands-each-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vasinvictor.com\/DEVfoodbank\/community-owned-food-pantry-in-gary-helps-feed-thousands-each-month\/","title":{"rendered":"Community-owned food pantry in Gary helps feed thousands each month"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Blanca Rios and Judy Hsu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

GARY, Ind. (WLS) — ABC7 Chicago is helping to Feed the Love this holiday season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana serves both Lake and Porter counties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nearly 91,000 people in that area face food insecurity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the need is even greater in Gary, with one in five households struggling to put enough food on the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But a local minister has a plan to end hunger in his community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“My goal is to destroy food insecurity in the city of Gary,” minister LuJuan Clemons said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clemons is the founder of the Family Life Community Center, located at<\/a> 565 Massachusetts St. in Gary. His pantry-turned-co-op holds food distribution several times a month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It helps when you’re running out and you need some extra,” Gary mom of two Lisa Myles said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About 21% of Gary residents face food insecurity, according to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In just the last three months, Family Life and its team of volunteers have helped feed nearly 8,000 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earnestine Carey dedicates her time as a food distribution volunteer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

FEED THE LOVE<\/a><\/strong>: Chicago Heights Library after-school program helps feed kids all year<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I buy groceries like everybody else. So, I know how much they cost,” Carey said. “So, it feels good to be able to provide to our community, so we can afford to eat healthier food.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I believe without this pantry, I wouldn’t make it. I’m going to be honest, I wouldn’t,” Gary resident Anna Lipscomb said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The distributions can easily bring in about 100 or 200 people, Clemons said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“You saw those lines. I don’t like those lines,” Clemons said. “I stood in those lines with my parents growing up.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those lines are still necessary for now, but Clemons said he’s slowly getting people to come inside the co-op.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It gives people a sense of dignity,” Clemons said. “This is not hard to do. Let’s create a grocery store atmosphere where people come in throughout the week now.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The co-op is mainly sourced by the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana<\/a>. But they’ve also partnered with local entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Basically, what it is is a grocery store owned by the community, period. Everything is free here. It’s only those that want to give and understands the need. This is how we exist,” Clemons said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Clemons, a project is already in the works with Gary to expand the co-op model to empty corner stores and “fill them up with fresh food,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“They’re all vacant now. We’re bringing them back,” Clemons said. “You’re going to see this duplicated all around the city of Gary.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The center also offers daily hot meals, made by the minister’s wife, Tamika Clemons. Students can stop by for a free breakfast, and anyone is welcome for their “pay what you can” dinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can help end hunger by donating to the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana<\/a> or another food bank<\/a> near you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
SEE ORIGINAL ARTICLE<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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