PUTNAM COUNTY NON FOOD PANTRY
Serving our community
A monthly ministry that has run for over 10 years providing lunch and essential products (for example, householder cleaners, paper products, and personal hygiene items) that are not included in food assistance programs. We regularly serve 300-400 individuals from Putnam County and have reached thousands with this program.
We are grateful for the donations and volunteer support that allows us to assist our neighbors and spend time with them. Visitors to the Non-Food Pantry often let us know that the chance to eat and talk together means as much as the monthly items and many volunteers would tell you their work for the Non-Food Pantry is their most cherished and meaningful community service.
Since March 2009, the Putnam County Non-Food Pantry has distributed bags of necessary household items that are not covered by food assistance programs to more than 2,000 different families in Putnam County. These items include laundry supplies, personal and bath supplies, paper products, diapers, and household cleaning supplies. We have grown from serving 59 families per month to an average of 145 per month, in 2019. With the onset of COVID, in 2020, we regularly serve 300-350 families and individuals. Pre-COVID, the poverty estimate for Putnam County was 10.5% and 13.6% for people 18 years old and younger. Our neighbors in Putnam County are struggling with food insecurity and paying for rent and utilities. The projected 2020-2021 figures for food insecurity in Putnam County are 16.3% for adults and 25.4% for children, a 28% and 38% increase, respectively from 2018. By providing visitors to the Non-Food Pantry with personal and household products, we hope to lighten their load, even a little, so they can spend their money on other daily essentials.
Distribution takes place on the last Saturday of each month from noon to 3:00 pm at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. In November and December we shift the dates to accommodate the holidays.
We give out recyclable bags of 5-7 household and personal hygiene items.
Due to the pandemic, our monthly distributions are taking place outside, in the St. Andrew’s parking lot. Please enter through the Cornerstone Baptist Church parking lot and remain in your car. We would appreciate you wearing a mask to help keep our volunteers safe.
We rely on volunteer and community support to sustain our programs.
Your contribution of time or financial support can make a real difference in the lives of families in our community. Many patrons have told us they don’t know how they would feed their families without our services. They tell us our volunteers feel like family to them.
Make a Financial Donation
Your support is more important than ever. We are now serving 100-150 more families and individuals a month than we did pre-pandemic. Your donation will help us continue to purchase the essential products needed by members of our local community, as well as to continue to expand our services to those in need. Please reach out to anyone listed under “Contact Information” to learn about how to donate funds, products, or your time. We appreciate all the donations we receive.
Donate Non-Food Items
We accept donations of the following non-food items. Donations may be dropped off at St. Andrew’s or call to make arrangements. We appreciate all the donations we receive.
To inquire about the Non-Food Pantry and learn how you can help. Please contact anyone listed below.
- Karen Hirt Mannon: (765) 720-2402
- Martha Rainbolt: (765) 653-8060 or rainbolt@depauw.edu
- Kate Berry: (307) 250-2860 or kateannpickering@gmail.com
- Christiane Wisehart (215) 850-4842 or christianewisehart@depauw.edu
- St. Andrew’s Church office: (765) 653-3921 or standrewsgreencastle@gmail.com
