The Pilot News - Local food pantry needs more

TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) is a program that provides cash assistance and supportive services to assist families, helping them achieve economic self-sufficiency. But strict restrictions such as: “a family may not possess assets valued in excess of $1,000 at the time application for assistance is made (other than their home) is ineligible” makes it impossible for anyone working to get help. So if you have a 1990 rust bucket that takes $40 to fill and constantly needs repairs, you won’t qualify.
And TANF income restrictions are even more difficult to be eligible for. For example, a family of four with two adults and two children cannot exceed earning of $712.25 or more each month in order to qualify. Because a person’s gross income does not include their medical bills; rent; utilities payments; car, property, life or home insurance payments; medical bill payments; school lunches; clothing; dentist and optical appointments; car and home repairs; gas to get to and from work; child care or other expenses, they have the dire need but can’t qualify for the assistance the family may desperately need—thus the “working poor” have nowhere to turn.
“We’ve had some generous donations lately,” explained Blacklaw. “The American Legion (Bourbon’s Post #424) is always on board for us and just made a big donation and the South Bend Food Bank will give us some commodities but a very limited amount. We also had another large donation from Alan Dee Price and I want people to know that we also pick up donations if they need us to. This is not only a regular, local need, it’s a growing, local need.”
She said without these recent contributions they wouldn’t have been able to replenish the quickly abating supply at the Helping Hands Food Pantry (a ministry of the Bourbon First United Methodist Church). “I know people are having a hard time giving to neighbors because of their own households being at stake,” Blacklaw said. “But for the people who want to give, who can give, they need to give to their local pantry to help their neighbors. Some people have to rely on us regularly to make ends meet. Bourbon already has homeless people who have nowhere to go who are having to doubling up their households.”
She added that even small donations of one gallon of milk or a carton of eggs can be a big help. “When the school’s counselors don’t have the access to funds to assist the families we have children going to bed hungry,” Blacklaw noted. “Single moms and even moms and dads who are working are struggling; they’re the ones that have to watch their children suffer without. We have food stamp applications and resources available for those who want to apply but even with that assistance people are losing their homes.”
Massive layoffs and the following unemployment have been a large contributor to the downward spiral as have medical costs. And for some, even paying credit card debt contributes to their need. But one major source that has hardest hit area homeowners (as well as renters) and those that have had steady employment is their utility bills. Blacklaw said, “You could go door to door and the average person’s NIPSCO bill begins at $300. We have to keep those costs down so we can keep people in their homes.”
She said Care and Share of Marshall County is also in great need of funding: “because when we get someone that comes in and needs help we go to our township trustee.” “We all work together with Care and Share,” Blacklaw said, “but even utility assistance helps only partially.”
As an example, one Bourbon family (who wished to remain anonymous) said that with both parents working full time and using NIPSCO’s “budget plan” (which averages usage so customers aren’t hit with a monstrous bill during the coldest months), the family pays $667 every month.
“That’s more than our mortgage payment; that’s more than both of our incomes for one week,” said the frustrated wife and mother of two. “This house is so old and in such disrepair that if we hadn’t been on the budget plan (with NIPSCO) we would’ve gotten a $1,400 bill just for January usage. We can’t get any help with food stamps, energy assistance or anything because we are told we make too much money, but we spend all our money on our house payment, utilities, medical bill payments and gas to get to and from work.”
Other problems with getting help include rules meant to be helpful to society in general but that limit eligibility. “In 1986 they made a stipulation that says if a person was ever convicted for a drug charge they are not eligible for food stamp benefits—ever,” said Blacklaw. “So a person that did something stupid 20 years ago and have changed their lives and are now suffering, they can’t get any help.”
In Bourbon, with a population of 1,772 (per statistics of July 2007) there were 18 households and 68 persons who regularly received assistance from local charity organizations in 2007. In 2008 the number was only slightly less with 15 households and 56 individuals. During what is already showing to be the year with the largest need, in 2009, with donations being scarce, jobs being on the line and families losing their households, some foods—such as peanut butter (which is often donated)—is another fear because of recent health scares.
Blacklaw said to simply check the labels. “JUSCO, CareFour, Peter Pan, Con Agra, Publix brand, Wal-Mart brand (Great Value), Winn Dixie, and any jar with the code 2111 on it should be thrown out,” she said.
Pantry office hours are from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednes-days at the Bourbon First United Methodist Church, 204 N. Washington St. “If people don’t know what kinds of food to give, they can give a cash donation to the church (noting that it is for the pantry),” said Blacklaw. “If they had $100 to donate, they could give part to pantry and the rest to Care and Share so they can have food and utility and other help.”