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Dear Editor:
The Noblesville Township Trustee Office has offered a food pantry to its residents on a continuous basis for probably longer than any other pantry in Noblesville. It was started by Trustee Billie Caldwell who served for 36 years.
As a partnership owner and store manager of the former Kenley’s Supermarkets, I took a special interest in helping run our pantry. I felt well qualified in the safe handling of both perishable and non-perishable food due to my training in the grocery industry.
One may ask whether all these various food pantries are needed in Noblesville where most folks are well off. Are there people who drive expensive cars and don’t seem to need free groceries taking advantage of pantries?
My answer to the first question is that Noblesville has a significant population of people who fall below the poverty line. During my two terms in office, I noticed that many of our food pantry clients had never requested any other form of financial assistance. Food assistance was just enough to keep them from needing to ask for help on some of their other bills. There is no shame in visiting a food pantry if that is what helps you keep the light bill paid on time.
All food pantries that are properly run are an asset to our community. I will give a special shout out to Harvest Food Bank, White River Church, Saint Vincent De Paul, and my favorite: the Noblesville Township Trustee Office.
As to the second question – are some folks taking unfair advantage of food pantries? – my answer is that it does happen occasionally. They are usually not difficult to spot. Their behavior often gives them away. Having a brief conversation about how our food is reserved for very needy families usually results in them not returning. I would estimate that over 95 percent of our visitors are short of grocery money after paying their other necessary living expenses.
Almost all our pantry items come from donations by local churches, businesses, civic clubs, the annual Noblesville Fire Department food and toy drive, Noblesville Boys & Girls Club special events, Good Samaritan Network shares overstocked items, and private citizens and neighborhood food drives are important contributors. We are member of the Harvest Food Bank who provides about 600 pounds of food to us monthly. We stock both perishable and non-perishable food items as well as paper products and personal hygiene items when available.
For more information on our pantry please visit the trustee office, call (317) 773-0249, or visit our website, NoblesvilleTownshipTrustee.com.
In summary, I think that all the indoor food pantries that are climate-controlled, manned with employees or volunteers, and have good, monitored refrigeration for perishables and carry a variety of products are necessary and needed in Noblesville.
I am not a fan of outdoor drop off and pick up locations, however well intended. Too many security and food safety issues are left unaddressed. Canned and boxed foods shouldn’t be subjected to such temperature and humidity extremes. Canned food items are not safe or nutritious after freezing and thawing. Extreme heat is also a problem. Use your search engine and see where most food experts weigh in on freezing canned goods.
If I were food deprived, I would seek my food elsewhere. When we go to the grocery and return home, we don’t store our food in a wooden box on the back porch.
Tom Kenley
Noblesville
Noblesville definitely needs food pantries. The outdoor drop offs are trying to solve the real problem of other food pantries that are too often closed. Food pantries need to be open when people can get there, such as after work. A closed food pantry helps only people who can’t or don’t work. I am a fan of all food panties.
Just because you have a nice car doesn’t mean you aren’t hungry. Don’t judge unless you know someone’s situation.