By Aaron Dorman, The Times of Northwest Indiana
EAST CHICAGO — The line for the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana’s mobile market spilled into the parking lot at The Cross Church and wrapped around a full city block; an estimated 400 cars showed up for the last turkey meal delivery before Thanksgiving, with some drivers saying they’d been waiting four hours to make sure they’d receive meals.
“Nobody in America should be hungry,” said church pastor Donald Ramirez. “Unfortunately, we have people in America who are hungry right now. That shouldn’t be a crisis we face as Americans. But we want to be a blessing to our community and show people they are not alone.”
According to Ramirez, who partners with the food bank and also hosts a separate turkey distribution with the church, there has been an influx of need over the past few months as residents have faced uncertainty around SNAP benefits and federal assistance.
Food Bank of Northwest Indiana Mobile Market Coordinator JD Jenkins said their rough estimate was they’d seen a 50% rise in meal delivery recipients this fall, noting they’d probably delivered 10,000 turkeys, and a similar number of chickens, with hundreds of cars in line for their tenth scheduled market.
“We’re hearing from neighbors and recipients saying they have to reapply for benefits or only got half this month,” Jenkins said. “A lot of neighbors are scared. They don’t know what is around the next corner or what the government may do next.”
One recipient, Latonya Williams, said, “I don’t think you can print in the paper” what she thinks of the government right now, but she said she was very thankful for the food bank and neighbors — a friend lent her a car for the mobile market — helping during the holiday season.
“There’s a lot more people facing food insecurity than you think,” Williams said. “I don’t like to ask for help. I’m very grateful for the food bank and the churches. That’s an understatement.”
Many of the recipients who came to the mobile market expressed expiration but relief that they were receiving Thanksgiving meals — delivery packages included turkeys (or, when they ran out, chicken), yogurt, onions and more.
“It means everything,” said recipient Cinnica Patrick. “It’s exciting to be able to get good, nourishing food for my kids, for my family.”
Another recipient, Denise Maebin, declared it was a “beautiful” day despite overcast skies (it wasn’t snowing at least, she noted) as she put her turkey in the car.
“Turkeys are 30 dollars at the store,” Maebin said. “I’m glad we got food stamps back, but I’m not gonna let Trump do nothing to worry me to death. It means a great deal for me, my family and friends to be able to pick up this food.”
Often, Jenkins said, the food bank volunteers encounter emotional meal recipients, especially during the holidays.
“Sometimes neighbors come up, with their kid in the car, and, say, we give out grapes,” he said. “The kids jump for the grapes, they’re so excited, and the parents have tears coming out of their eyes. Sometimes parents don’t know where their next meal will come from, or they’re just discovering (the food bank mobile markets).”
Even if people don’t eat turkey, Jenkins said he was heartened by the importance the community placed on keeping up the Thanksgiving tradition. Despite the tumultuous situation moving forward with food insecurity, he said one silver lining was that the community has been offering more, in volunteer hours and donations, over the holidays.
“Neighbors in NWI have recognized they need to step up to the plate,” Jenkins said. “People have extra food, they pass it on. We are coming together; that’s what we’re supposed to do.”
The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana will hold two Christmas holiday ham mobile deliveries next month, on Saturday, Dec. 13, at the food bank, 6490 Broadway, in Merrillville, and on Thursday, Dec. 18, at Portage High School Door G, 6270 US Hwy 6, in Portage. For more information, readers can go to foodbanknwi.org.