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Services in West Terre Haute, Indiana
Are you a resident of West Terre Haute in Vigo County, Indiana in need of basic services in your community? Two Sisters of Providence sponsored ministries and another non-profit organization may be able to help.
Providence Food Pantry
Location
Hours
Providence Food Pantry, with the support of The Helping Hands and many churches and civic groups in West Terre Haute, work to meet the needs of those who are struggling. The pantry, a ministry of the Sisters of Providence, serves more than 4,000 families a year, providing food baskets to families in need. Our clients are served with great respect and we provide a place filled with love, peace and justice.
Sister Brendan Harvey founded Providence Food Pantry in 1994. Sister Joseph Fillenwarth took the ministry over in 2006 and retired from the ministry in 2022. The current director is Sister Maureen Fallon.
In 1994-95, 1,205 families and 3,155 individuals were served in West Terre Haute. And in 2015, we served 3,944 families (14,756 individuals). In 2023, we served 4,191 families (14,101 individuals). Since 1994, we have served 93,138 families and 322,118 individuals.
During the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the pantry served a record 5,659 families and a record 19,065 individuals.
During the 30 years, we have distributed more than 15 million pounds of food, allowing our families to prepare some 13 million meals!
Partner churches: 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.
Ways to give back to Providence Food Pantry
You can help! Contact Sister Maureen Fallon at 812-535-2544 to learn how you can help or email her.
Volunteer
Dozens of volunteers serve at the Providence Food Pantry. The pantry is always in need of male volunteers who can help carry food to vehicles for clients.
Donate
Putting our complete trust in the Providence of God, the Providence Food Pantry is financed entirely by individual and church donations as well as grants from local foundations and organizations.
Pantry wishlist
- Peanut butter and jelly
- Cereal
- Bars of soap
- Toilet paper
- Canned fruit
- Canned meats (chicken, tuna, etc.)
- Canned soup
- Saltine crackers
Items can be dropped off at the Pantry on Tuesday from 9:15-10:15 a.m., or Thursday from 6:30-11 a.m.
The Connecting Link
Location
More information
The Connecting Link has assisted more than 3,500 individuals in need of food, money, furniture, clothing or basic services since its beginning in 1997. The ministry provides information and referrals to and from other not-for-profit organizations, as well as advocacy within the civic community, to address pressing needs related to social services, all free of charge. It also helps clients obtain agency referrals for unemployment benefits, disability benefits, Social Security benefits, legal assistance/low income and home ownership/low income. The ministry also collaborates with other civic, religious and educational groups in the community.
Assistance provided
If you live in West Terre Haute and would like assistance with any of these issues, we can help:
- Abuse, counseling, substance abuse
- Adult basic education, budget planning, GED
- Clothes, food and meal preparation, toys and other needs
- Dental care, health care, mental health, women’s health
- Employment, day care (child & adult), transportation, utility bills
- Emergency housing, furniture, household items
- Senior citizen issues
- Spiritual guidance
Past initiatives
The Connecting Link has been involved with a number of West Terre Haute initiatives and programs. These are just a few of the ways that Connecting Link has contributed to the community:
- Affordable Housing Rehabilitation Program
- Animal control clinics
- Demolished vacated houses
- Emergency Flood Fund 2008
- Town-wide trash pickup
- West Vigo Community Center loan
- Vigo County Public Library branch: retention, relocation, service enhancement
- WTH day care building sale
- Elementary school retained and upgraded
The Helping Hands Thrift Store
Location
Hours
More information
Established in 2003, The Helping Hands is a non-profit organization helping to provide clothing and household items to the West Terre Haute and surrounding communities.
The majority of items for sale are 25 and 50 cents, including clothes, purses, dinnerware, toys, games, books, CDs, DVDs and more. Items are all donations.
About The Helping Hands
A handful of volunteers with Providence Food Pantry saw the need for such a non-profit in West Terre Haute and forged ahead with The Helping Hands. Currently, there are 10 board members for The Helping Hands. Area resident Shirley Herrington serves as the board president. In addition, many area residents volunteer for the organization.
Though The Helping Hands is not a ministry of the Sisters of Providence, a number of individual sisters are involved with the non-profit in various ways.
- Read more: “The Helping Hands thrift store: making a difference a quarter at a time” (from HOPE Magazine Spring 2014)
Donate to The Helping Hands
Donations are accepted at the following hours:
- 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
- 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Thursdays
Due to the small number of volunteers, we can only accept your donations during these times. Please DO NOT LEAVE your donations outside of our building. Thank you!