Pantry raises $4,200 through fundraiser

Providence Food Pantry, a ministry of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, tallied more than $4,000 from its recent Thanksgiving Basket Raffle.

“The raffle was a great success,” food pantry director Sister Joseph Fillenwarth said. “It was marvelous.”

Thirteen Thanksgiving baskets were on display at the West Vigo IGA for patrons to look at and purchase raffle tickets on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 22-23.

The baskets were raffled, beginning at 6 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 23, at the grocery store.

Sister Joseph said the pantry received $4,200 through the fundraiser.

Basket winners through the raffle included:

• Jill Baker – Game Night (movies and snacks),

• Ian Davis – Turkey ($140 gift cards),

• Verylene Burris – Laundry supplies,

• Carol Witty – Pasta and Olive Garden gift card,

• Beth Boulhellia – Family fun games and snacks,

• Sister Alice Walsh – Food basket,

• Sister John Mary Rifner – Towels and hygiene items,

• Joan Cork – IGA gift certificate,

• Eileen Murdock – Laundry supplies,

• Sis McCallister – Christmas ($140 gift cards),

• Sara Holbert – Game night (movies and snacks),

• Connecting Link – Food basket and $40 IGA gift card, and

• Sonny Allison – $100 money tree.

All proceeds from the raffle went to Providence Food Pantry, 701 W. National Ave., West Terre Haute, to help purchase food.

“It was a success because of the unity of the churches working together to make the project come to life,” Sister Joseph said. “It shows what can be done if we work as the one Body of Christ.”

The need to fund the pantry is evident based on the steady increase in the number of people utilizing it. In the past five years, the number of families served has risen from 3,248 to 3,691, representing 2,120 more individuals being served.

Sister Joseph said the pantry’s food budget went “off the scales” this year, giving pantry officials a reason to prepare for the future.

“We usually have 325-plus families each month, but we’ve had more than 287 families this month – and we have one more week to go,” Sister Joseph said. “It’s a good feeling to see our clients go out the door with deep gratitude and a big smile on their face.”

The baskets were made possible through the 13 West Vigo area churches and organizations which support the pantry, including The Helping Hands, First Assembly of God Church, Bethany United Church of Christ, Bethesda United Methodist Church, Christ United Methodist Church, First United Methodist Church, Smith Parke United Methodist Church, St. Mark’s United Church of Christ, St. Mary’s Village Parish, Emmanuel United Methodist Church, Trinity Church, The Sisters of Providence and West Vigo IGA.

For more information on the food pantry, call Sister Joseph at 812-535-2544 or email jfillenwarth@spsmw.org.