Holiday help, in form of meals
LAKE STATION — Nine hundred northwest Indiana families had one less chore this holiday season, thanks to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana, MillerCoors and Indiana Beverage.
The partners joined together earlier this month to distribute dinner ingredients to the recipients, via vouchers from six of the Boys & Girls clubs.
This was the fourth year for the food giveaway, with each of the clubs receiving 150 vouchers. The meals were bought through Strack & Van Til and dispersed by employee volunteers from MillerCoors and Indiana Beverage.
“These employees always do an exceptional job of volunteering their time and efforts in distributing meals to families in need each year. With their support, our club members are able to enjoy a comforting, holiday meal with their families,” said Megan Henning, marketing manager for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana. ”This year, 900 families — that may have gone without otherwise — are receiving a holiday meal.”
At the Boys & Girls Club in Lake Station, manager Donna Gonzales welcomed participants during the event.
“We identify those that would benefit from the food giveaway,” she said as she watched her employees assist visitors. “We care for our families.”
Boys & Girls Club development and marketing director Ray Nedohon, also present at the Dec. 17 food giveaway, echoed those thoughts.
“This is ingrained in our mission,” he said. “Today is a perfect complement to what we already do.”
Kristeen Ritley is familiar with that mission, as her two children attend the Lake Station club on a regular basis.
“This club is a great place for the kids, and this (food distribution) shows they care about the family members too,” she said as she was handed her menu’s ingredients.
Included in the reusable grocery bags, which were donated by Town and Country Food Center, were a large turkey breast, stuffing, gravy, vegetables, rolls and a pie.
“This (food giveaway) is helping to ease the stress for many people this holiday,” said Carrie Bruno, of Hobart, as she left the Lake Station club with her groceries, husband James and sister Ashley Szczepanski. “The Boys & Girls Clubs always do a great job helping the kids, and this (event) shows they want to help their families too.”
The other clubs participating in this year’s food giveaway were from Hammond, Cedar Lake, Gary, Merrillville and East Chicago.
According to their mission station, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana provide children with a safe place to learn and grow, teaching them to develop interpersonal relationships.
They also provide programs in regard to character and development experiences, as well as providing youth with hope and opportunity.
For more information, visit www.bgcnwi.org.