OUR CURRENT BI-MONTHLY MISSION

United Christian Services

of Indian Lake

Lewistown-Trinity United Methodist Church

Reaching Out Into God's World  To Be His Hands and Feet

The Indian Lake food pantry was established in 1985 in a combined effort of 9 churches, Lewistown-Trinity UMC being one of them. Leading the effort was Pastor Jim Dinkel of Galilee Lutheran Church in Russells Point. The original name of the food pantry was United Christian Services of Indian Lake. In 1990 Pastor Dinkel resigned his position as coordinator and Carl West and Edith Early took over the responsibilities. The pantry was moved to the St. Vincent de Paul building at the St. Mary of the Woods Catholic Church. In 1991, the group formalized the pantry as a not-for-profit charitable organization.

In September of 2000 under the direction of Cynthia Defibaugh, the pantry was reorganized and renamed Indian Lake United Christian Services Inc (UCS) and submitted the paperwork for 501(c)3 status. After the food pantry was awarded 501(c)3 status. it was then eligible to purchase food from the national food bank “Second Harvest” in Springfield Ohio. Currently the UCS food pantry is located in the Russells Point Municipal building.  We have about 32 volunteers, however on Thursday’s we have about 8-10.

The Food Pantry is open the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Thursdays of each month from noon to 3:00. This pantry serves anyone in the Indian Lake school district. Food provided is approximately 3-5 days. Currently each family is allowed one visit per month. 

In 2019 we served 5850 people. Of the 5850, 25.5% were children, 33.8% were seniors and 40.7% were adults. This comes to 17,550 days of food to those in need in the Indian Lake area.  This calculates to approximately 100,000 pounds of food in one year.  Over the last several years, the Food Pantry has been able to provide extra food at Easter (ham), Thanksgiving (Turkey) and Christmas (ham). Occasionally we receive donations which greatly reduce the impact on the Pantry expenses. 

The 2019 expenses totaled $19,458. Expenses include food purchased from Second Harvest Food Bank and local grocery stores, and the purchase of non-perishables such as soap, and toilet paper. Donations for 2019 totaled $16,384. A special thank you to Lewistown-Trinity’s faithfulness for helping the needy in our community. Many other churches in our community also donate during the year.  Today’s circumstances find many more in need of the Food Pantry than ever before.
 
Would you please find a little extra over the next couple months to help feed the needy in our community?  In 2019 United Christian Services Food Pantry averaged 185 families per month. That amounted to the totals below that went out our doors on an average month. The items below are the minimum that are given to families and does not include the frozen meats, baked goods and extra items we receive:

• 235 Boxes Cereal
• 248 Cans Fruit
  
• 57 Cans Pasta (Spaghetti O’s etc,)
  
• 191 1# Spaghetti
  
• 128 Jars of Spaghetti Sauce
  
• 489 Cans Vegetables
  
• 739 Cans of Soup
  
• 248 Cans Tuna/Chicken
  
• 198 Jars of Peanut Butter/Jelly
  
• 326 Boxes of Mac & Cheese
  
• 118 Boxes of Saltine Crackers
  
• 185 Bars of Soap
  
• 370 Rolls of Toilet Paper
  

Thank you for helping to feed those in need!
Mary Fulton

and the United Christian Services of Indian Lake

food pantry team