Local autoworkers donate tons of food for their friends and neighbors
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November was a tough month for those facing food insecurity. When the federal government shut down and suspended the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), millions of people across the nation no longer knew where their next meal would come from or when they might eat again.
Howard County immediately stepped up and established a Feeding Program to address the sudden and acute need. And Stellantis, the county’s largest employer, rushed to the community’s aid as well. Recently, the company’s local employees donated literal tons of food through the “Pack the Pacifica” program.
Lori Hoback, administrator of Stellantis’ Indiana Employee Training Center, spearheaded the effort locally. She explained how the company mobilized to assist.
“When food security became an issue nationally, the Chrysler brand stepped up and started a campaign called Pack the Pacifica,” Hoback said. “The idea was, let’s get as many plants together as a company across the United States and make a significant donation that’ll impact the world.
“And let’s leverage our United Way contacts so that it’s not just in Detroit. We have operations all over, such as in Indiana, so by leveraging United Way, we were able to really get into our local communities, which really motivates people to give. When you know you’re helping your friends and your neighbors and your community, it really matters.”
The four Kokomo Stellantis plants fully packed three Chrysler Pacificas with food and delivered it to St. Andrew’s Church, where the Howard County Feeding Program is housed. Volunteers from the company unloaded the products so that sorting, packaging, and distributing the donations could commence.
“This donation is huge for the feeding program,” said Bethany Wenger, public health projects manager with the Howard County Health Department and co-organizer of the feeding program. “We received grants from the United Way to purchase grocery items to go in the bags week to week, but within the first two weeks, we used all of that money.
“We’ve been relying solely on donations, so this food drive will provide the items to go into the bags for the next two weeks. This is huge. We would be hurting if we did not have this influx of food donations.”
The feeding program, Wenger explained that, in Howard County, more than 10,000 people suddenly were without sufficient food access following SNAP suspension. Building off a program established in the summer due to the State of Indiana’s elimination of its subsidies for food for children living in low-income families, the feeding program mobilized within two weeks to address the need.
“We already had a foundation to build off of,” said Wenger. “We wanted to maintain different distribution sites across the county to provide meals directly to the communities right where they are. Through the Howard County Food Access Alliance, food pantries, churches, and nonprofits, we are making sure we can get food to people.
“From the health department’s perspective, that’s what we’re trying to trying to address, making sure that people have access to quality, nutritious foods to prevent chronic diseases and long-term health challenges.”
Thanks to donations from Stellantis workers and individuals and organizations across Howard County, thousands of meals have been provided to local residents throughout the month. The feeding program will continue through the second week of December, bolstered by the restoration of SNAP benefits.