Lifestyles
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Angie Faller
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Plant a Row for the Hungry
As secretary of Angel Food Ministries, Barbara Sharp often hears the phone calls of people who need food, help with the rent or money to pay utilities.
“We just get a lot of calls from people who are needing food, and sometimes, we can help them, and sometimes we can’t. I do refer them to some of the food pantries if we are not able to help them,” she said.
Angel Food, along with local food pantries, have seen an increase in requests for food and services since the recession hit. Angel Food Ministries sells store-quality food to people at a reduced rate, and the service is available to anyone.
While food pantries are always in need of donations, one thing they don’t often receive is fresh produce. With the planting season fast approaching, the University of Illinois Extension Effingham Center is starting a program to encourage area gardeners to plant an extra row of produce and donate the fruits and vegetables to local food pantries.
“We are trying to encourage people to eat healthy. The hardest part is vegetables. They are the most expensive. We are trying to get vegetables to food pantries,” said Dot Behrns, a member of the Nutrition and Fitness Task Force of Vision 2020 Alliance for a Healthier Effingham County.
The Task Force and extension center are promoting the event called “Plant a Row For the Hungry,” which was created by the Garden Writers Association of America.
The extension center held a spring plant sale Saturday morning to kick off the event. Thirty people bought plants and raised $150 for Catholic Charities.
The group also handed out “Plant a Row For the Hungry” garden starter kits with seeds, recipes and information on local pantries where people can donate fresh produce.
Contact Rosie Gibbons at the extension office at 217-347-7773 or Bonnie Kruse at St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital at 217-347-1230 for more information on “Plant a Row For the Hungry.”
Area groups that would welcome any donation of fresh produce include:
• Catholic Charities, Effingham — Drop off any day except Saturday.
• Grace Family Church, Effingham — Contact Barbara at 217-342-3305 or 217-663-0149.
• St. John’s Lutheran Church, Effingham — Contact Anna Mae Gibson at 217-536-6214 to arrange drop-off.
• Altamont St. Paul Lutheran Church Grace Food Pantry — Contact Alverna Tappendorf at 618-483-6493. The food pantry is open the second Friday of the month from 10 a.m. to noon and the fourth Saturday of the month from 2 to 4 p.m.
Angie Faller can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 131 or angie.faller@effinghamdailynews.com.
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