Any idea what happens to the food you put in the grocery cart in the Commons?

The St. John Lutheran Human Care Board distributes the donations to area food pantries, including the Hodge-Daniels Food Pantry run by Emmaus Lutheran Church in the Fountain Square area.    

“We serve a wide range of the community, spread from Washington St. to Thompson and Emerson to Meridian Street,” says June Brutcher, Director Hodge-Daniels Food Pantry. “We turn no one away, only ask that they register and sign a paper that states their salary is within guidelines; we take their word on it.” 

In addition to receiving food donations from St. John and other churches, the Hodge-Daniels Food Pantry receives federal grants and purchases around $100 a week from Gleaners. Gleaners receives food donated from grocery stores and distributes it to food pantries throughout Indiana. Some people who work for Kids Against Hunger, now Pack Away Hunger, donate bag meals to make casseroles. Hodge-Daniels also takes food donations from other LCMS churches, schools and individuals.

A few items the food pantry requests that can be placed in the grocery cart in the Commons:

• Canned fruit 
• Bread
• Sweets
• Spaghetti sauce
• Peanut butter
• Soup
• Toilet paper
• Kleenexes
• Laundry soap
• Bars of soap

If you plan to donate to the food pantry directly, they really appreciate perishables to be distributed the same day, please come 30 minutes prior to opening. As you can expect milk, cheese, and fresh fruit are a special treat on the pantry shelves.

The Pantry is open Monday and Tuesday from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. and Wednesday 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.  

When asked if the Pantry ever runs out of food, whether the demand is more than the offering, June Brutcher answered, “We run out of some things but everyone goes home with something.  The Lord figures it all out.” The community faces challenges, and many share their problems. Emmaus Lutheran hopes in these times they are able to share the gospel, which is a key point in their ministry. 

For more information, you may contact the Hodge-Daniels Food Pantry by calling (317) 955-7936, or visiting their website.