Monday is your big day to donate food or money as part of "Neighbors in Need," a joint project of The South Bend Tribune, WSBT Stations and Martin's Super Markets.
Where/When: Come to WSBT Stations, 1301 E. Douglas Road (between Main Street and Fir Road), Mishawaka, between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday ... Just drive up and drop off your donation. Be sure to say hello to the WSBT celebrities who will be there to accept your donations.
Can't make it on Monday? Please leave your non-perishable food items anytime in "Neighbors in Need" barrels at all Martin's Super Markets or donate money via http://www.feedindiana.org/#.
How will your donations help?
All donated food will be distributed among food banks in St. Joseph, Elkhart, Marshall, LaPorte, Kosciusko and Starke counties.
Money raised will go to Backpack 4 Kids, an effort of the Food Bank of Northern Indiana to provide food for youngsters when they are not in school, like weekends and holidays ... a time when youngsters may not have nutritious food available to them.
Backpack 4 Kids, with 12 to 15 kid-friendly food items in each backpack, are distributed through shools that have high rates of students in free lunch programs in St. Joseph, Elkhart, LaPorte and Starke counties.
The cost of food, delivery, and distribution is approximately $2.30 per week per child in the Backpack 4 Kids program, according to the Food Bank's website.
Read other "Neighbors in Need" stories at http://www.wsbt.com/wsbtextras/neighborsinneed/.
To find a food pantry, call United Way's toll-free information line at 211.
In Sunday's South Bend Tribune, be sure to read "Three local food gurus share insights on using food pantry items"
