Donations delight Porter County residents
By Annette Arnold -
annette.arnold@nwi.com | Saturday, November 7, 2009 |
PORTAGE | Attorney Kenneth J. Allen and wife Nina were all smiles Friday morning as they handed bags of food to people at the Portage Food Pantry. The Allens distributed dinners to 100 families in Porter County. Bags for each family dinner will include a canned ham, potatoes, green beans, corn and a brownie mix. Dinners for 300 Lake County families will be distributed in mid-November.
"We all need to step up and do our part and especially in these economic times," said Allen. "We try to do something like this every year."
Leonard Carroll, director of the Portage Food Pantry was pleased with the donations.
"This donation is truly a blessing," Carroll said.
Earlier this year the Allens donated $20,000 to the United Way of Porter County for the Kinderprint child ID kit program, for children in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties.
"My wife Nina and I are passionate about the need to help the less fortunate," Allen said. "Having worked in the trades and the mills while attending law school, I understand the desperate situation families often find themselves caught in, particularly when the economy is less than robust. There is no sadder situation than when parents are unable to feed their children. I hope this sends a message to our community that the need is here -- in Northwest Indiana -- and I hope others will step up so that no child or adult goes hungry."
Rosemary Arambula of Portage was one of the recipients of the donation.
"I've been here before, and this is the best pantry," she said. "It's nice to get extra food for the holidays."
