Hutchins believes Culver has had a food pantry at least since the formation of the Council of Churches in the 1940s. She’s been in charge of the pantry since 11 or 12 years ago, when the pastor of Grace at the time asked her at a Council of Churches meeting to take over his work there. “There was nothing in it but green beans at the time,” she smiles, “but it was here.”
Since then, Hutchins — who lived in the surrounding rural community before moving into the town of Culver in 1989 — has worked to improve the pantry’s offering. “I asked why there was no USDA food or anything, and they said they couldn’t do it. It took a couple of phone calls and contracts being signed, and then we got the stuff.”
She says the South Bend food bank is the source of the majority of the pantry’s food, followed by USDA government-issued food and community donations. Hutchins is grateful for the help of Lions Club members who assist in the stocking of the pantry. Lion Leroy Bean — recently awarded “Volunteer of the Year” by Culver’s Chamber of Commerce — picks up the food in South Bend and from the United Methodist Women’s thrift store in Culver (one of several drop-offs for items), with Bean and other Lions like Art and Pat Birk aiding in putting items on the pantry shelves.
“It looks full today,” notes Hutchins, glancing around a pantry with shelves fairly well-stocked with hundreds of canned and dry foods. “But by the time I get out of here at noon, it will probably be pretty well used up.”
It’s not quite 10 a.m. and already half a dozen people are waiting in the room outside the pantry proper. Hutchins says there’s no screening process to receive food, but visitors to the pantry are asked to sign in and write the number of people in their family. “The amount of people I have is the key for the government to figure out how much commodities they’ll be able to give me,” she explains.
In recent weeks, a number of community organizations — from churches to service clubs, to schools and businesses — have stepped up to the plate in Culver to help raise money and food for the pantry. As Hutchins speaks, Brian and Carla McCormack of Papa’s Pizza walk in with several boxes of donated food, the result of a request made on the billboard sign outside their restaurant. They say the donations are the result of a week of advertising, and they plan a longer campaign in the future.
Wesley Preschool held two “pajama parties” for its students, with a food item for the pantry as the entrance fee. Culver Public Library’s “food for fines” campaign is offering one dollar off patron overdue fines for each item donated towards the pantry.
Culver Academies student Ian Greenberg, in charge of community service among students, heard about the need from art instructor Bob Nowalk. He and other students launched a campus-wide drive that included placing boxes around the campus for food donations, holding a $20 per person challenge for teachers, and passing the hat at church services, which resulted in an anonymous donor offering matching money for whatever was collected. The result: over 300 pounds of food and a check for the pantry of more than $1,200.
And the list goes on.
Hutchins says she’s very thankful for the donations, but also reminds people that the need extends beyond the holiday season. “This will be needed all year long until things pick up,” she notes.
In particular, Hutchins says, personal supplies like shampoo and deodorant — which the food bank doesn’t carry — are in short supply and always welcome. She encourages those wishing to donate to call her at 574-842-2598 or contact Pastor Robin Keating of Grace United Church of Christ at 574-842-2331.