The friendship between Jack Sopko and Yasmine Porter may have been a one-day event, but their dedication to philanthropy will be something the two remember.
Jack, 7, of Munster, bounced around happily as he helped Yasmine, 15, give out loaves of bread during the Food Bank of Northwest Indiana’s 5th Annual Hope for the Holidays food drive Saturday at St. Mary’s Hildebrandt Hall in Griffith. Though things got busy, the curly-haired Cub Scout with Pack 936 never let his friend out of his sight for long.
“I was helping her get that stuff in there,” Jack said, running behind his dad, Tim Sopko, before speeding off again. “She’s my friend and we helped each other!”
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Normally held at the Radisson Star Plaza, the food drive’s Lake County event was moved to the Griffith Hall this year, said Food Bank interim Executive Director Steve Beekman. As such, there were a few hundred less people coming through than they usually serve, but there were still plenty of people waiting outside the hall when the team got there to set up at 7 a.m.
“We serve approximately 4.3 million meals each year to people who’re food insecure, or those with limited ability to get good, healthy food regularly,” Beekman said. “In Indiana, 1 in 6 people is food insecure, while in Northwest Indiana, that number is 1 in 5, and that’s an increase over the national average.”
And the food – a healthy mix of grains, proteins and veggies – won’t go to waste. Any of the food that wasn’t distributed Saturday would be used at Food Bank-affiliated pantries in the area, giving people who need help a shot at a good meal. Another Food Bank distribution takes place Saturday at Christ Lutheran Church in Valparaiso.
People who showed up for the drive, however, received a chicken, canned goods, mashed potatoes, bread and juice – the perfect amount for Katrina Stinson, of Gary, to feed her family of three a nice, healthy Christmas dinner.
“This is great for the holidays. It helps a lot,” she said.
Alex Sotiroski, of Merrillville, volunteered on behalf of NIPSCO, which donated $10,000 to the effort. It was his second year as a volunteer, and he just kept moving where he was needed.
“It’s a great opportunity to see what we do for people in need,” he said. “We’re giving people a hand.”
Jack and Yasmine weren’t the only ones who developed a friendship as they worked; William Ramsey, 15, of Cedar Lake; and Claire LaVoie, 13, of St. John, raced their shopping carts around while waiting for people to help.
“It’s so humbling to see all the people with smiles on their faces, even if their situation is tough,” Claire said. “It’s amazing.”
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Valparaiso event Saturday
The Food Bank of Northwest Indiana will hold its Porter County leg of the drive at 9 a.m. Saturday at Christ Lutheran Church in Valparaiso. People are encouraged to bring their own boxes and bags.