Press release from NIPSCO:
NIPSCO Helps Provide Holiday Food for the Hungry
(November 30, 2010) – At a time when warm family reunions over tables filled with traditional holiday food are common, the fact is that fifteen percent of the population in northeast Indiana don’t know where their next meal will come from let alone a holiday spread with all the trimmings. But one local utility along with its employees has stepped forward to help those less fortunate have a reason to set the table this holiday season. NIPSCO has donated $10,000 to Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana, Inc. to help the organization purchase holiday food for distribution to those in its nine county service area. NIPSCO Employees also held a food drive donating well over 600 pounds of holiday food items.
“NIPSCO and our employees realize that many families continue to struggle during this economic downturn and that we were in a position to help during
this holiday season,” said Larry Graham, NIPSCO Public Affairs Manager. “Our employees helped by holding a food drive and NIPSCO matched their
generosity with a $10,000 contribution to Community Harvest to help meet the demand they were dealing with during the Thanksgiving and Christmas
holidays.”The donations come at a time when the food inventory at Community Harvest is extremely low. “The need is so great right now,” said Jane Avery,
Community Harvest, Executive Director. “This economic crisis has gone on so long that it has just taken its toll on folks. Generous companies like NIPSCO and individuals like the NIPSCO employees make it possible for us to help those who are struggling. We are so grateful to them for seeing the need and stepping forward. These donations will go a long way to help good people have a little joy this holiday season.”
About NIPSCO: NIPSCO, with headquarters in Merrillville, Ind., is one of the nine energy distribution companies of NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI). With over 712,000 natural gas customers and 457,000 electric customers across the northern third of Indiana, NIPSCO is the largest natural gas distribution company, and the second largest electric distribution company, in the state. NiSource distribution companies serve 3.8 million natural gas and electric customers primarily in seven states. More information about NIPSCO is available at www.nipsco.com.
About Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana, Inc.: Community Harvest Food Bank is the largest hunger relief organization in northeast Indiana, annually distributing nearly 10 million pounds of food. Community Harvest collects wholesome surplus food and grocery products donated by the food industry – products that might otherwise go to a landfill – and other donors and utilizes it for hunger relief. The food is distributed by nearly 500 churches and human service agencies in its member agency net-work, serving 21,200 unduplicated clients per week throughout its nine northeast Indiana county service area. These agencies include food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, rehabilitation centers, and youth and senior citizen programs. Community Harvest Food Bank is a member of Feeding America and Feeding Indiana’s Hungry (FIsH). For more information, visit www.chfb.org.