With Thanksgiving just a couple of days away, a number of families in the county are struggling to find a way to place a daily meal on their table.

What began as a dream and desire to assist needy families in the county earlier this year when Tabitha’s Mission closed became a reality a few months ago with the opening of a local food pantry.

Since that time a number of food drive efforts have been held and grant monies procured to stock the shelves of the former home of the Castle Theater, 109 East Third Street, Rushville.

Realizing the need to feed the hungry, Student Council and S.A.D.D. members at Benjamin Rush Middle School organized a food drive.

According to BRMS S.A.D.D. co-sponsor Karen Cox, the effort resulted in nearly 2,000 items being collected and given to the pantry.

Rush County Community Assistance Food Pantry board president Don Heller and Phil Mitchell accepted the food items from the students.

The pantry is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and the last Saturday of every month.

After being in operation for just three weeks, by mid-October it was reported that 375 individuals from 117 families have utilized the free service as a means of feeding their families.

The pantry is staffed by trained volunteers. Assistance is available to anyone in need and the process is simple. Individuals in need of food are required to provide a photo ID and complete a registration form.

Frank Denzler can be contacted at (765) 932-2222 ext. 106 or via e-mail at frank.denzler@rushvillerepublican.com. To add a comment to this story visit our Web site at www.rushvillerepublican.com.