Unsatisfied hunger is a growing problem in low income families all across the nation. It hits especially hard this time of year, when parents are struggling to put food on the table and gifts under the tree. No one wants to deny their child the miracle of Christmas. Fortunately for the city of East Chicago, the Strack and Van Til, Miller Coors, and Indiana Beverage Christmas Dinner Drive is growing too.
Seven years ago the two corporations united to fill a need they saw in their community. Stracks, Miller Coors, and Indiana Beverage partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of East Chicago and have been hosting this drive at the Club every year since. This December it fell on the 16th.
“Our goal,” explained Ray Nedohon, the BGC’s Director of Development and Marketing, “is to have a holistic influence on the kids we serve. We promote healthy leadership, and healthy lifestyles. We want to help families meet their full potential.”
During the school week, the Club does what it can to provide snacks and light meals for its members. “We can’t serve the food needs of the kids all year,” said Nedohon, “So being able to do this for the holidays makes it really special.”
The parents and guardians of the Boys and Girls Club members were each given an opportunity to receive a free Christmas dinner. The drive was set up in a room in the Club, where Nedohon and representatives from both Stracks and Indiana Beverage were waiting to personally greet them and hand out food.
“We know the need exists,” said Chris Bengtson, the Chief Operating Officer of Strack and Van Til. “We are fortunate and blessed enough to be in a position to be able to help. [Indiana Beverage and us] have a great partnership to begin with, so we decided to come together to augment what we already do.”
Each meal voucher gave its recipient a huge ham, an apple pie, a Stracks bag, and a few other side dishes to go with their meal. Many of us take our holiday feasts for granted. To the struggling parents in our community, drives like this take a huge worry off of their plate and replace it with hope.
“We believe in the work the Boys and Girls Club does,” explained Jon Leetz, the President of Indiana Beverage, “And we want to be a part of it. When Stracks asked us, it was a no brainer. We’re all in this together. As human beings we need to look out for each other.”
Aliesa Dawkins came to the Christmas Drive after receiving a phone call from the Club. Her two foster sons spend their afternoons at the BGC so that they can keep active. “This is just super fantastic,” she said. “They eat so much.. I am just outdone. This is not a help: it’s a blessing.”
