Salvation Army Kroc Center hosts Pack the Pantry to meet increased demand

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – You can help Pack The Pantry at the Salvation Army Kroc Center this month.

The food and household items at the center’s food pantry have been in high demand recently.

Ken Lavery, director of marketing at the Kroc Center, says the need for assistance has been higher in part due to inflation and gas prices.

“Right now, all the centers are low on everything,” Lavery explained. “The need is greater. We have people looking for something, and we don’t have it.”

The center is doing everything it can to avoid turning people away.

“We have people looking for something, and we don’t have it,” he said. “It’s hard to tell people. We will definitely find everything we can, but we need help from the community.”

While the center initially planned to do a weeklong food drive, they decided instead to have the drive through the entire month of July to help fill this need.

Any nonperishable food and some household goods can be donated, but they are specifically requesting:

• Canned fruit and applesauce
• Canned chicken or tuna
• Cold and hot cereal
• Kid-friendly foods
• Fruit juices
• Paper towels
• Toilet paper

There are collection bins inside the facility where you can drop off your items.

The Kroc Center has a goal to collect 3,000 items, or $3000 in donations, by the end of the event, which lasts until July 31. If you’d like to donate online, you can do so at this link. In the section that asks ‘Where would you like your donation to the Kroc Center to be used?’ select ‘Family Resource Center.’

You can find more information about the Kroc Center and their food pantry by visiting their website and you can contact Jan Marable at 574-367-2333 with any questions.