Local businesses step up to provide food assistance amid shutdown

ELKHART, Ind. — Despite contingency funding on the way, those who rely on SNAP assistance will experience delays in receiving benefits this month. Now, some local businesses are stepping up to help struggling families.

What started as a regular delivery at Freshieez Pizza has sparked a wave of giving during a time when many need it most.

“My wife, Brooke, made a delivery the other day and really came across a family that was in need,” said Steve Olinger.

After seeing the need firsthand, Freshieez launched an “Adopt-a-Family” program. For every 25 donations of $20, the restaurant will select a local family impacted by the shutdown to receive a full dinner and a $500 gift card, with donors’ names signed on the pizza box.

“I was sitting on my couch thinking, how

can we help more people?” Olinger said.

Within six hours, the community donated more than $500, enough to feed the first family. The Olingers said for them, it’s not about politics, but about people.

“We bake from the heart, we act from the heart, we wear our hearts on our sleeve,” said the Olingers.

To donate visit or call Freshieez: https://freshieez.com/?

In Dowagiac, the annual C. Wimberley Feed the Hungry campaign kicked off Monday morning with a parade to the bank to cash donation checks.

“Almost everything comes from small donations. There are a few large donors, but most of it is Jim going around gathering from people with small gifts, and that’s a lot of community effort,” said co-chairman Jeff Neumann with Action Ministries.

Now in its 16th year, the campaign has grown into a countywide effort, raising more than $50,000 last year to support 10 Cass County food pantries. Organizers say they’ve seen an increased need but community support for has allowed them to keep up.

“Now is a really hard time. There are a lot of wealthy people that aren’t doing their part to get this government going again, and these people are going to go without food, and they don’t seem to care,” added Co-chairmen Jim Allen.

More information and to donate : https://www.actiondowagiac.com/?