www.thepapersonline.com
Wednesday, September 21, 2022
Serving Kosciusko County and parts of Elkhart, Marshall & Noble Counties
Vol. 52, No. 13
Milford (574) 658-4111 • Warsaw (574) 269-2932 • Syracuse (574) 457-3666
114 W. Market, Warsaw, Indiana 46580
Food banks and pantries —
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same mission, 7H[W DQG 3KRWRV %\ &$/(,*+ %<5(5 6WDII :ULWHU It is a common misconception that food banks and pantries are the same; they do have similar goals, but they are far from identical. Food banks and pantries serve the same cause; they want to provide aid for anyone in their area who is struggling with food insecurity. However, banks and pantries differ in the way they provide such help. Food banks, comparable to a warehouse-type storage facility, are responsible for acquiring, storing and distributing food items to food pantries. Pantries, on the other hand, are responsible for the communication and small-scale distribution aspect. Pantries are where private individuals can go to get the food items they need. Banks have significantly larger amounts of food, typically in containers that can hold mass amounts of food or kept boxed-up for safe storage and transport. The banks are often supplied by grocery stores; they receive excess or near-expiration ffood items. They also purch purchase and redistribute fo food items to the pantr tries. Food pantries ha have community co-
different operation
about making sure the community knows that banks and pantries are not the same. “We do get a lot of people who come here who think we operate like a pantry,” Doege stated, “but unfortunately we can’t open the doors to the community or they will have to stay open.” Despite food banks wanting to solve the same issues as food pantries, they are unable to operate as a food pantry does. That means any individual who is seeking assistance will most likely not be able to get it from a food bank. Doege would like the community to know the difference between food banks and pantries so everyone in need will be aware of where )22' 3$175< ³ 7KH (WQD *UHHQ )RRG 3DQWU\ LV RQH they can go to get RI WKH QHZHU .RVFLXVNR &RXQW\ IRRG SDQWULHV RSHQ DQG the assistance they DYDLODEOH WR WKH FRPPXQLW\ 7KH IUHH SDQWU\ LV RSHQ need. If the difference KRXUV ZLWK YLGHR VXUYHLOODQFH between the two is established clearly within the community, it is his alitions and are usually smaller establishments where hope there won’t be as much those who need additional resources can go for assisconfusion for everyone in the tance. They are the direct connection to the community, while food banks work behind the scenes to supply the future. See listing of local food pantries. inside on page 3. pantries It is important to recognize the difference between food banks and pantries so the community is aware of what resources are available and where they are available. Bill Doege, the Milford Food Bank operations manager, is adamant