Benefit tallies more than $14,000 for food pantry

More than 200 people took part in the 11th Hunger Bust Fun Run/Walk at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods on Saturday, Sept. 9.

All proceeds from the event benefited Providence Food Pantry, a sponsored ministry of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

The event is sponsored by Saint Mary’s Village Parish. On Thursday, Sept. 28, event organizers donated the proceeds to Sister Maureen Fallon, SP, director of the pantry.

This year’s event collected a record-breaking $14,197.27 for the food pantry. Last year, the event tallied proceeds of $9,243.

Annually, Providence Food Pantry serves approximately 3,000 families in the West Terre Haute Community. Sister Maureen said in the past 12 months, more than 14,000 individuals have been served.

The pantry is financed entirely by donations.

Sister Maureen said this year’s Hunger Bust Fun Run/Walk proceed will provide food to the community for two months.

“This will help pay for the food we need to provide,” Sister Maureen said. “On Sept. 21, we served approximately 400 individuals and we have served 440 families during the month of September.”

She added it costs $20 to help feed a family of five.

Donations to the food pantry are happily accepted on Tuesdays from 9:15-10:15 a.m., or Thursdays from 6:30-11 a.m. The pantry is located at 701 W. National Ave., West Terre Haute.

Sister Maureen said the pantry has approximately 65 volunteers, including 12 Sisters of Providence and two Providence Associates.

In continued efforts to raise funds to feed people in need, Sister Maureen said Providence Food Pantry will conduct a Rummage Sale from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., on Saturday, Oct. 7, at the pantry. Funds from the sale will also benefit people in need in West Terre Haute.

The late Sister Brendan Harvey, SP, founded Providence Food Pantry in 1994. Sister Joseph Fillenwarth, SP, directed the pantry for 17 years before Sister Maureen became the full-time director in December 2022.

Partner churches for the pantry include 6th and Poplar Christ Community Church, Faith United Methodist Church, St. Mary-of-the-Woods Village Church, Bethany United Church of Christ, Emmanuel United Methodist Church, Dunlap United Church of Christ, St. Mark United Church of Christ,

Providence Food Pantry is open every Thursday from 8-10:30 a.m. For more information, call 812-535-2544 or email mfallon@spsmw.org.