Turkeys and trimming

By Andrea Hirsch/Times Sentinel managing editor

November 25, 2009 03:59 pm

— The Zionsville Food Pantry gave turkey and all the fixings on Friday, Nov. 20, to approximately 250 people in need so they could serve their families a Thanksgiving dinner this year.
The pantry, which is based out of the Zionsville Presbyterian Church and is a Gleaners Food Bank agency, serves needy families in Boone County and the northwest part of Marion County.
Nancy Thompson, pantry director, said the numbers of families in need have grown. This year, she said, it is serving 40 percent more families than it served last year. She said they have 400 families active with the pantry.
“We have bigger numbers because of this big economic crunch,” she said. “A lot of senior citizens have been hit hard and for some, this is it for the week. With all the doctor visits and medical expenses they have to pay for, this really helps them out.”
Thompson said the need has grown so much, she estimates that her pantry in Zionsville will be empty by January 2010.
“The more people we serve, the faster we will run out,” she said.
In an effort to serve the community a Thanksgiving meal, the pantry supplied whole turkeys, canned pumpkin, stuffing, fresh vegetables, crackers, mashed potatoes, pie crusts and pudding. The pantry opened on Friday, Nov. 20, at noon and served food until 2 p.m. At 12:30 p.m., there was a line wrapped around the church.
This year, the pantry was able to provide 200 complete whole turkeys thanks to this year’s Brick Street Chili cook-off proceeds.
“We are so blessed to have so much support from the community,” Thompson said. “You hear a lot of stories of some that have nowhere to turn to and it’s an honor to be able to help people in our community.”
Anne Ast, who was one of more than 40 volunteers Friday to help serve food, has been volunteering with the organization for many years.
“I volunteer because I was looking for something to do and it seemed like a good cause,” she said.
David Ruffer, a volunteer with the Rotary Club International, volunteered at the pantry on Friday. He said the club volunteers during November because he knew there would be a lot of people in need for the Thanksgiving holiday.
“We just do what we can,” he said.

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