Dont Go Hungry
Fortville Area Resource Mission (FARM) Provides Food Assistance For Families in Vernon Township
Writer / Kylee White
Photographer / Sam Zachrich
Lending a hand to those in need can be as easy as taking time out of the day to help give resources to those who may need it. Fortville Area Resource Mission (FARM) gives the opportunity to volunteer and help families in the area with food assistance.
Inspired by the collaborative efforts of many Fortville area churches, FARM was officially established on January 1, 2021, to help provide food relief and other help for families in Vernon Township and the surrounding areas, Lisa Reynolds, Director of FARM says.
FARM provides efforts such as providing food through donations and hosting food drives. Last year, FARM was able to donate more than $40,000 worth of food to families. This year, Reynolds says they are hoping to expand their outreach and help even more families.
We are currently providing food for over 200 families each week, Reynolds says. We coordinate with Mt. Vernon Schools to provide food for at-risk children. The collaborative effort provides weekly food bags to 75 at-risk children identified by our school counselors.
This fall, FARM will take part in the Treats on Main event which will be on Sunday, October 29. People who decide to join in on the free event can take part in fun fall activities as well as stop by the FARM booth to learn more about their operation. Last year, they did a similar event in which they hosted a resource fair.
In the fall of 2021, we hosted a community-wide fair located in downtown Fortville, Reynolds says. We had over 30 nonprofit organizations, which serve our community, attend this event and over 3,000 individuals attending the fair. We created a Shepherd Team in the fall of 2021 with a group of dedicated people who have the passion to help people so people know there is someone here that cares about them.
Each week, FARM participates in an indoor pantry giving food and meal packages out. Starting at 11:30, people will have the chance to participate in prayer before the food distribution. Afterward, from 12:30 to 2:30 is when distribution will take place for families in a walk-through style. Reynolds says that anyone who would like to come and help with those efforts is appreciated. FARM also partners with Gleaners to help with their food efforts. Reynolds explains how because of the recent wars around the world, there has been a grain shortage making it difficult for them to provide foods such as breakfast bars or cereals. Because of this, Gleaners has been able to provide grain foods for little over a month to help with this issue.
FARM has volunteers who help with their relief efforts, but is still on the lookout for more people who are wanting to help out. One of FARMs efforts is helping those who need household items (such as cleaners, deodorants, toothpaste, soaps) and breakfast foods (such as breakfast bars, oatmeal or cereal). Those who want to help can by donating on their website. FARMs website also includes a list of foods that are needed for meal packages. Any person who would like to donate food can drop off the items at Fortville Christian Church at any time throughout the week.
We have learned that we can do more for our community with everyone working together, Reynolds says. There have been weeks where we are concerned that we will not have enough food to serve our friends, but every time we have had what was needed.
To learn more about FARM, their mission and when their events are, visit fortvillearearesourcemission.org or visit their Facebook page at @FortvilleAreaResourceMission. To donate to their mission, visit fortvillemission.churchcenter.com/giving.
