From Utilities District of Western Indiana REMC:
Cold storage expands for Lighthouse Fellowship Church’s Operation Hand Up food pantry with purchase of a new cooler, made possible by a grant from the Utilities District of Western Indiana REMC Community Fund. Located in Gosport, the pantry serves roughly 100 families every week.
“Looking back at how we started — operating out of a supply closet — it’s a blessing to see how much the pantry has grown through the generosity of the community, our staff, and volunteers,” said Angie Devore, Executive Assistant and Treasurer for the Lighthouse Fellowship Church.
Since its founding in 1978, the Operation Hand Up pantry at Lighthouse Fellowship Church has provided supplemental food/meals to those in the area. Although the operation started small, it quickly grew from a closet to a classroom and kept growing until it took over the fellowship hall. In 2010, the church built a designated building for the pantry. The food pantry building is open every Thursday, except on holidays.
In addition to its regular activities, Operation Hand Up participates in special community initiatives, such as giving food to the “backpack buddy” program, the local fire station and to other local pantries.
“We thank UDWI members for donating to the Community Fund and to the Community Fund Board for choosing our ‘Operation Hand Up’ as the recipient of this grant. It truly allows us to continue our mission of supporting families in the community,” said Devore.
With the $2,500 grant, the pantry replaced two old refrigerators with a large cooler. This expands the amount of cold products carried and distributed to families.
If you are interested in stocking, distributing, or otherwise helping at Operation Hand Up, Lighthouse Fellowship Church welcomes all to give back to the community and inquire about volunteering. Stop by 5392 IN-67, Gosport, IN 47433 or visit www.lfc.life to learn more.
The full list of recent recipients of an UDWI REMC Community Fund grant are: A.M. Risher Pool Revitalization Project, Inc.; C2C; Greene County Drug Task Force; Greene County General Hospital Foundation, Inc.; Greene County Soccer Association; Loaves and Fishes Food Program; Operation Hand Up; Pregnancy Choices; RoboBoosters, Inc.; St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry; White River Youth Foundation; Worthington Community Improvement Committee; and Yielding Health Wisdom and Halcyon.
To donate to the Community Fund, UDWI REMC members can participate in the RoundUp Program, which allows cooperative members to round up to the nearest whole dollar on their electric bills. The money accumulated is awarded to various nonprofit organizations— determined by the UDWI REMC Community Fund Board (separate from UDWI REMC staff and Board of Directors).
The UDWI REMC Community Fund, Inc. is now accepting applications for its next grant cycle. All nonprofit businesses in UDWI REMC’s service area are encouraged to apply. Please visit www.udwiremc.com to learn more about the program and to start an application.