on the path
By Lydia Freudenberg
Photos courtesy of the New Albany Food Pantry
Taking a Stand
Community steps up to help New Albany Food Pantry during pandemic
F
ew of us expected COVID-19 to get this close to home, but it did. With a pandemic comes so much more than monitoring your health and practicing social distancing. Around 500 New Albany-Plain Local School District students who relied on a free or reduced lunch have been forced to find an alternative, and people who lost their jobs due to businesses closing – whether permanently or temporarily – may experience financial insecurities. One effect is disheartening, earth-shattering and invisible: hunger. The New Albany Food Pantry recognizes these problems, and it’s clear the community does too. Over the course of the pandemic, volunteers, Healthy New Albany employees and organizations have stepped up as more local families need assistance from the NAFP. www.healthynewalbanymagazine.com
New Albany Food Pantry workers and volunteers are dedicated to the community. (Please note, this photo was taken before the six feet apart order.)
Angela Douglas, NAFP director, says the New Albany Community Foundation, local churches, school partners and nonprofit like the New Albany Women’s Network have pitched in to uplift families suddenly stricken with an urgent and unexpected need. “We’ve always had a group of wonderful community supporters, but a crisis seems to help people slow down and remember what life is about – how fragile we all are as humans,” Douglas says. The NACF expedited a $10,000 grant to the NAFP, a tremendous contribution since every dollar donated provides $10 worth of food and many of the upcoming NAFP fundraisers are expected to be canceled. Even though in-person donations have been suspended, hundreds of New Albany residents have
given grocery store gift cards and donations via Amazon Clicklist.
Beyond New Albany
Helping your community is vital during the pandemic, but it’s also important to realize that millions are facing hard times across the country and world. Feeding American is the nation’s largest domestic hungerrelief organization and it’s currently working overtime. The organization recently launched the COVID-19 Response Fund that will help individuals facing hunger and food banks that provide resources. Visit www.feedingamerica. org to learn more about its efforts and how you can help. 15
