Hunger Is Real In Southeastern Indiana

The annual fundraiser was held Thursday in Lawrenceburg.

Freestore Foodbank president and CEO Kurt Reiber spoke at the Dearborn County Clearinghouse Hunger Awareness Event on Thursday, April 12. Photo by Mike Perleberg, Eagle Country 99.3.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) – When somebody asks what the face of hunger looks like, Freestore Foodbank president and CEO Kurt Reiber tells them to look in the mirror.

“It is people like you and me,” Reiber told the full room at the Dearborn County Clearinghouse Hunger Awareness Event.

The annual fundraiser held Thursday evening at the Lawrenceburg Event Center featured speeches and updates on how the non-profit Clearinghouse is helping to feed the hungry in our area.

Reiber said the Freestore Foodbank has partnered with the Clearinghouse over the past two years, making the Clearinghouse a distribution hub for southeastern Indiana.

Reiber, who has been with the charity since 2011, addressed a misconception that those who are hungry do not have a home or a job. Seventy-five percent of the Freestore’s clients are working families. Their wages are not high enough to prevent them from having to make the choice of whether to eat, pay the rent, or fix their car.

The Freestore Foodbank is on target to provide 27.2 million meals to tri-state residents this year. While it sounds like a lot, Reiber said that 50 million meals would have to be served in order to meet the need.

“Eating healthy is a right. It something we need to demand,” he said.

Photo by Mike Perleberg, Eagle Country 99.3.

An update was also provided on the Clearinghouse’s Sacks of Snacks program, which sends needy students at six South Dearborn Community School buildings and Lawrenceburg’s Central Elementary home with free food each week.

“Staff members have heard a lot of students express their thanks, and what a difference we are making in their lives,” said Aurora Elementary School principal Mary Bailey. “Children can’t control their difficult circumstances, and need support from all of us.”

For hungry kids, breaks from school in the fall, winter, spring and summer can seem endless.

Before the evening wrapped up, attendees to the free event were asked to make a contribution to the Dearborn County Clearinghouse. A fundraising total was not immediately available.

Cincinnati radio personality and Dearborn County resident Jim Scott served as the emcee of the Hunger Awareness Event.

“People here are independent, but we’re also interdependent,” he observed.

Dearborn County Clearinghouse board member Adrienne Flannery provided a “State of the Clearinghouse” address. She said the facility in Aurora needs additional freezer space so that it may accept more cold food donations. Flannery listed the services provided, including food, clothing, Sacks of Snacks, the Coalition for Children’s Christmas Toys, emergency bags for the homeless, disaster assistance, holiday meals, Easter baskets, and more.

Flannery added that volunteers are always needed. People are welcome to contribute as many hours as they like.

To learn more about donating or volunteering with the Dearborn County Clearinghouse, visit www.dearbornclearinghouse.com.