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Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Serving Elkhart County and parts of Noble, LaGrange & Marshall Counties Know Your Neighbor. . . . . 2➤ Speak Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Good Neighbors . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Middlebury Hometown Holidays . . . . . . . . . . .6 & 7 Christmas Bucks. . . . . . . 9-11
Goshen (574) 534-2591
Vol. 49 No. 32
134 S. Main, Goshen, Indiana 46526
w o d n i W back
e g n h i t T owly get er months t f sl a l a n m w r o o to n of shutd %\ /$85(1 =(8*1(5 $VVRFLDWH (GLWRU Pre-pandemic The Window, 223 S. Main St., Goshen, was a place for those who were homeless or low income to come, enjoy coffee and doughnuts in the morning or a hot lunch at lunch time. The non-profit organization also offered an opportunity for people to socialize while they waited their turn for services. When the pandemic hit, The Window shut down and had to find a new way of doing things. Currently the agency is still on lock down “Which means no one except staff and volunteers are allowed in. What we do is hand things through the door,” explained Susi Miller, director of development for The Window. Pre-pandemic, clients were allowed to “shop” the food pantry for what they wanted. Today, volunteers put together food boxes for clients filled with non-perishable items as well as perishable items such as eggs, butter, meat, bread as well as fresh veggies and fruit. Last month 854 food boxes were handed out, double what was handed out in October 2020. Doughnuts and coffee are not currently being offered and hot lunches are packed up and handed out through the back door. Miller said the hope is for The Window to re-open to full capacity sometime in 2022. Ed Swartley, executive director for The Window, has been watching the COVID numbers carefully. He won’t reopen the agency until the numbers fall to a specific level and stay there for a specific amount of time. While clients aren’t being allowed in, there are exceptions. Those needing showers are allowed to come in and shower, one at a time. Miller said the shower facility is then scrubbed down after every use. The shower facility had been closed down for a year and a half. The clothes closet is also open from 10:30 a.m. to noon every Thursday with only three people allowed to shop at a time. And from 3-4 p.m. Monday through Friday people are allowed to “shop” the at risk table — a table with baked f o o d
3$&.,1* %2;(6 ³ $UPRQ .DXIIPDQ OHIW DQG (G *URII YROXQWHHUV DW 7KH :LQGRZ GRXEOH FKHFN D 3$ 3$&.,1* %2;(6 ³ 3 $&.,1* $& * %2 (6 ³ $ $UPRQ .D UP PRQ .DX DXIIIPDQ OHIW DQG (G *U P Q OHIWW D PD DQ QG (G *UR URII YROXQWHHUV DW 7KH : R I YR ROX XQ QWWH HHUVV DW W 7KH H :LQGRZ GRXEOH FKHF Q RZ GRXEOH F HFN D ER[ RI IRRG LWHP ER E R[ RI IRR IRRG WH IR HP PV EHIRUH VHQGL P V EHIRUH VHQGLQJ LW RX V E IR RU VVHQGLQJ LW RXW WKH GRRU WR D FOLHQW 7KH IRRG ER[HV 7KH :LQ XW WWKH GRRU WR D FOLHQW 7K XW KH GRR RUU U WR D D FO HQ 7K KH IRRG ER[HV 7KH :LQ H RR R G ER R[[HVV 7K V 7 H :LLQ QGRZ JLYHV FOLHQWV DUH RZ J Y V FOLHQWV DU IX XOO ER[ RI IRRG LWHPV EHIRUH VHQGLQJ LW RXW WKH GRRU WR D FOLHQW 7KH IRRG ER[HV 7KH :LQGRZ JLYHV FOLHQWV DUH IXOO RI QRQ SHULVKDE RI R I QRQ RQ S SHU VKD DE EOH DQG SHULVKDEOH IRR H D G HUL KD OH RRG G LLWHPV 3KRWR E\ /DXUH HPV PV 3K KR R R E\ /DXUH UH HQ =H Q =H HX XJQHU XJ JQ QH HU RI QRQ SHULVKDEOH DQG SHULVKDEOH IRRG LWHPV 3KRWR E\ /DXUHQ =HXJQHU items that are about to expire. The Window also gives out diapers and pet food. For those coming in for those limited services masks must be worn at all times. The only program The Window oversees that has not been affected by the agency’s shutdown is Meals on Wheels. Miller said between the hot lunches being handed out and Meals on Wheels, approximately 160 meals are handed out every day. “It was really tough when we shut down,” Miller said. “These people come in for socialization. It’s a place to meet. Because we took away the coffee and doughnuts and a place to eat lunch, it’s tough.” Miller said the staff has been incredible. “You can find any member of the staff helping out in any spot (of the agency). You’ll see me stocking the pantry. We all get along,” she said. The Window has 19 volunteers who have returned to help on a regular basis, but there is room for more. Miller said the agency needs volunteers to help with Meals on Wheels, the clothes closet and pantry. “This is a great place to work or volunteer,” Miller said. For more information about volunteering call (574) 5339680. Those interested in helping The Window, $'',1* 7+( 9(**,(6 ³ $UPRQ .DXIIPDQ D but may not have the time to volunteer, it does YROXQWHHU DW 7KH :LQGRZ DGGV IUHVK \HOORZ VTXDVK need donations of both non-perishable and DQG D EDJ RI VZHHW SRWDWRHV WR D IRRG ER[ IRU D FOLHQW perishable food for its food WR SLFN XS boxes. Donations a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Miller can be dropped off between 9:30 asked donors check the expiration dates on any food items before donating them.