The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana is providing holiday food assistance to more than 800 families during its annual “Hope For The Holidays” Mobile Markets. The Lake County distribution will take place on Saturday, December 14th, 8am -10am, at the Food Bank, 6490 Broadway, Merrillville. The Porter County Distribution will take place on Saturday, December 21st, 10am – 12pm, at St. Teresa of Avila, 1604 East Lincolnway, Valparaiso, and is sponsored by the Porter County Community Foundation.

“The holidays bring a different set of challenges for individuals and families who are already struggling to make ends meet. We hope that by providing a holiday meal, some of the stress of the season is relieved,” said Victor A. Garcia, Executive Director of the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana. “We’re extremely grateful to our sponsors, donors, community partners, and volunteers who make these special distributions possible.”

The Food Bank hosts “Hope for the Holidays” each year to help make the holidays special for individuals and families in need. Families attending Hope For The Holidays will receive ham, potatoes, onions, carrots, bananas, and more. Onsite will be resources and services provided by community partners from Northshore Healthcare, Geminus, Regional Mental Health and more. Santa will also be at each distribution to bring joy and cheer to everyone in attendance.

There are approximately 93,000 people in Northwest Indiana struggling with hunger. More than 55,000 of those are children, and seniors relying on a fixed income. The Food Bank provides Hope For The Holidays and its other programs and services to ensure that food assistance is always available to those who need it most. “Holiday meals are an important part of the season, but often not a priority in families where resources may be limited. By providing a meal for the family, we hope to make the holiday a little better and brighter”, said Garcia.