Mya McNew – GrantCOnnected.net https://grantconnected.net News for Grant County Thu, 25 Apr 2024 14:21:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.3 https://grantconnected.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/cropped-GrantCo-150x150.jpg Mya McNew – GrantCOnnected.net https://grantconnected.net 32 32 Feeding Grant County https://grantconnected.net/blog/2024/04/25/feeding-grant-county/ https://grantconnected.net/blog/2024/04/25/feeding-grant-county/#respond Thu, 25 Apr 2024 14:03:59 +0000 https://grantconnected.net/?p=449 By: Mya McNew & Andrew Scalf

The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as limited or uncertain access to adequate food.

Grant County suffers significantly from food insecurity compared to surrounding counties. 

Ashley Shirley of Thriving Grant County shared statistics. 

“We are 91 out of 92 counties, so we have the second highest rate in the state. And we have the highest food insecurity rates for children,” Ashley Shirley, from Thriving Grant County, said.

Many organizations see those numbers play out when serving the community. 

“Last month, our food pantry saw 108 cases, which represented 262 individuals in Grant County,” Lieutenant Michaela Lendt, the Executive Director and pastor of the Salvation Army, said.

Lendt works with individuals directly on a daily basis.

“Roughly like 30% of people do not make what it costs to live…so then they have to decide what bills they are going to pay,” Lendt said. 

Brad Terhune, Executive Director of the Grant County Rescue Mission, said he points to the high price of food and low incomes as part of the reason for high amounts of food insecurity in Grant County.

“There are people who can not find a way to lower their grocery budgets when their incomes are not going up. As fast as the cost of things is going up,” Terhune said.

These rising costs have not stopped The Rescue Mission and other organizations from affording the food used to serve those in need.  

“Even in the last few years, you know, food prices have gone way up, we are able to still buy in bulk from different places,” Terhune said.

One place many organizations get food from is Second Harvest Food Bank.

Second Harvest partners with over 100 organizations and schools across eight Indiana counties.

Despite many organizations working together, many individuals still go hungry.

“It is kind of this silent thing a lot of families are struggling with,” Shirley said.

Many families fall under the categories of asset-limited, income-constrained and employed, also known as the Alice Index. 

“But they also make too much to get food stamps,” Lendt said. 

Lendt expressed families face the decision of buying food or paying bills because they do not make enough for both. 

The Rescue Mission and Thriving Grant County highlight ways other community members can help.

“I think if we all are collectively moving in the same direction, we can make a bigger impact,” Shirley said. “Support pantries, and do not just do it around the big holidays.” 

Along with Shirley, Terhune made the point that The Rescue Mission can do a lot with consistent donations and that when donating, many should consider buying industrial-sized cans instead of small cans. 

“I would love for the community to continue to come in and serve those that are in this situation,” Terhune said. 

Among those who have faced the struggle of rising costs, bills and addictions was Travis Osborn.

“I was a drug user out on the streets and went to rehab, and this was the place that I came to to turn my life around,” Osborn said.

Now, Osborn works at The Rescue Mission where he fulfills many jobs. 

“So I supervise the guys that are in the program. And I also teach my group that I lead is called the recovery group. So I teach the 12 steps derived from either AAA or NA, and kinda take them through those so they get an understanding of how to work their recovery,” Osborn said.

Food security is just one goal of these organizations, along with helping those suffering from addiction and mental health.

The community can and continues to take small steps to help out those in need.

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Salvation Army Holds Rummage Sale https://grantconnected.net/blog/2024/03/26/salvation-army-holds-rummage-sale/ https://grantconnected.net/blog/2024/03/26/salvation-army-holds-rummage-sale/#respond Tue, 26 Mar 2024 17:01:03 +0000 https://grantconnected.net/?p=382 The Grant County Salvation Army held their rummage sale Friday and Saturday, March 22-23, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Lieutenant Michaela Lendt, head advisor of the Salvation Army in Grant County, said all the proceeds from the sale go to a few different places.

“All the proceeds go to world services, which is the work the Salvation Army does all around the
globe,” Lt. Lendt said.

Lendt said the proceeds also go to programs like adult and children’s discipleship ministries that they have in Grant County.

“We can take these funds and put it into discipling people and supporting missions around the world,” Lendt said.

Kathy Walters, an active member of the Salvation Army since 2009 and a coordinator of the rummage sale, expressed the joy she has when holding events like this.

“The first two hours on Friday were wall to wall of people, which is wonderful,” Walters said.

Joy Baillie, a retired Salvation Army officer and coordinator of the rummage sale, said she spends her free time volunteering for the Salvation Army and teaching Sunday school for adults.

“We have a heart for people,” Baillie said, “It’s like heart to God, hand to man.”

Baillie said the Salvation army voluunteers also look at the rummage sale as a time to minister and encourage people.

“We try to make this a happy place for people and keep our prices low because we know there are people who depend on us,” Baillie said.

The Grant County Salvation Army serves roughly 10,000 residents each year with items like food, rent, utility, transportation, and many other things.

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Crew Members Prepare for Marion’s Easter Pageant https://grantconnected.net/blog/2024/03/21/crew-members-prepare-for-the-marions-easter-pageant/ https://grantconnected.net/blog/2024/03/21/crew-members-prepare-for-the-marions-easter-pageant/#respond Thu, 21 Mar 2024 16:39:07 +0000 https://grantconnected.net/?p=365 An estimated 150 crew members are preparing for Marion’s 2024 Easter Pageant coming up March 25 and 26.

The pageant will be held at the Grant County YMCA and begins at 7 p.m.

“When you come and see this play, you’ll realize how much Christ has given you peace and comfort if you just dissolve into his love,” Pat Travis, head coordinator, said.

Travis said they already have roughly 2300 tickets reserved for both nights of this year’s performance and past years have had 3000. She said people come from all over to participate in and watch the performance.

Photo by Glen Devitt

“We have graduated students coming in from Illinois, Ohio, and Texas,” Travis said.

The pageant has changed over the years, and Davy Chinn, Indiana Wesleyan University’s music division head chair, said 2012 was the first year the pageant returned with live music.

IWU students and faculty are greatly involved with the pageant and Travis said without their participation the show wouldn’t be possible.

“From the time the pageant was renewed, the division of music has been very actively involved as the musical element,” Chinn said.

Chinn said IWU’s orchestra, wind ensemble, cantate, chorale, and campus choir are all directly involved.

“It’s really cool to see so many groups coming together and people from the community just putting on this really big show” Gaby Gonzalez, IWU wind ensemble senior, said.

Gonzalez said this is her second year involved in the show and loves seeing multiple music ensembles get the chance to perform together.

“It is truly a passionate play because it’s the last week of Christ,” Travis said.

Doors open for the show at 6:15 p.m. on March 25 and 26. Admission is free, but tickets are still required and are available at the YMCA.

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