Democrats partnering to address food insecurity

The term is new. The situation is not. The phrase is a cold way to say hunger. The newest statistic I could find is from 2023. In that year 13.5 percent of households in the U.S. were considered food insecure.

Stephanie Barlow and Colin Nicholas Rotella are committed to attacking this problem in Owen County. Their first step was to tackle the four little food pantries in Spencer.

They cleaned up the wooden pantries and filled them with food they purchased themselves. They have received the help of the Owen County Democrats.

The Democrats' Outreach Committee collects food at local meetings and protests. They also enlisted the help of Pantry 279 in Monroe County. The project has grown and is in need of additional volunteers and contributions of food and funds.

There are 10 little food pantries scattered about Owen County:

Coal City: Jefferson Baptist Church
Jordan Village: White Church
Freedom: Church of the Nazarene, 5505 Jefferson St.
Gosport: Methodist Church, 119 N. 7th St.; and Gray's Estates.
Cunot: Cataract Lake Community Center, S.R. 42; and the First Baptist Church, S.R 243.
Spencer: 560 E. Morgan St. (in alley); 10 S. Montgomery St. (inside the Owen County Public Library during the winter); and 201 W. North St.

There was a little food pantry located near the river at the Owen County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) office. It had to be removed due to vandalism.

A new location on the south side of Spencer is needed. An additional pantry is available for installation. Information regarding available locations for the pantries may be sent to stephaniebarlow317@gmail.com.

Pantry 279 has been delivering food to home-bound residents of Owen County. The Democrats' Outreach Committee volunteered to assume that task. Ten home-bound people receive weekly deliveries.

A volunteer has stepped up to make the six deliveries in Spencer. Volunteers are needed to make four deliveries out in the county.

Pantry 279 has several home-bound people in the Poland and Cloverdale area requesting delivery.

Another resource for anyone experiencing food insecurity is the Spencer Methodist Church. Their Food Pantry is open on Wednesday from noon to 4 p.m.

Volunteers and funds are welcome. There are several ways to help. On Mondays at 1 p.m. volunteers gather at the Democrat Headquarters at 152 E. Jefferson St. in Spencer to sort the food for the little pantries and fill the bags for the home-bound.

The bags are light enough anyone can help deliver. Donations may also be dropped off on Mondays between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Items in great demand are shelf-stable milk, powdered milk, canned fruit, canned meat, tuna, rice, pasta, beans, peanut butter, evaporated milk and cereal.

Funds can be donated to this project by sending a check to Owen County Democrats with the notation 'food pantry' on the memo line.