West Lafayette Rotary establishes food pantry
WEST LAFAYETTE – The West Lafayette Rotary Club has established, in cooperation with the West Lafayette Police Department, a food pantry for local residents who are facing a need for food or other needs.
When the club was considering projects for the community for the fiscal year, the new police chief, Steve Klopfenstein, suggested that having an easily-accessible food pantry appeared to be a need in the area. Club members discussed the suggestion and submitted paperwork for a matching grant from Rotary District 6690 which was approved in July.
The food pantry is located next to the police station in West Lafayette. Club members Bob Nelson, Jay Davis, John Powell, Ed Chapeldaine and Steve Klopfenstein designed and built the food cabinet. The food pantry is accessible 24 hours daily and will contain a variety of canned goods and other non-perishable food items in addition to a number of household and hygiene items. The system is based on the honor system: You take what you need and when things improve, you give when you can. The process is purely anonymous and is based on trust. In addition, a freezer has been purchased that will contain several types of meats and frozen foods for distribution. Access to these items will be obtained by calling the police officers on duty at 740-545-6324.
Prior to the holiday, five laundry baskets filled with Thanksgiving items were assembled by the club and distributed through the Ridgewood schools.
A number of churches, organizations and school groups have indicated they will help sustain the operation of the pantry by donating items to the food bank.
In recent years, the West Lafayette Rotary Club has built shelters in Burt Park and the library, a concession stand at the waterworks park, and a bus shelter at the Park’n Ride at St Route 93 and US 36.
Organizations and individuals who wish to contribute to the food pantry can contact Vic Cardenzana at 740-545-6265.
Category: Clubs & Organizations
