Community programs offer food assistance ahead of the holidays

By Leah Rainwater

Preparing your wallet for the holidays is never an easy task, but there are some community programs that are able to help prepare your pantry.

The Second Harvest Community Food Bank and InterServ are services that usually help with food assistance in St. Joseph during the holidays.

Alchemy Tea Co. is also helping this year.

“Inflation is affecting everyone, even us,” said MacKenzie Osborn, the communications coordinator for Second Harvest. “So we really know that that is hitting all of these communities that we serve. And so to be able to provide even anything for Thanksgiving, we’re just thankful to be able to do that for people.”

Second Harvest had their Turkey Day registration on Thursday, where all 500 turkeys and sides were reserved before noon.

“I think that food assistance is necessary everywhere,” said Osborn. “You can really see anywhere you go that it’s affecting people even in the small communities that you maybe wouldn’t expect.”

InterServ said it is helping families who have previously received food assistance from the program.

Alchemy Tea Co. will be also be providing a turkey to families in need of food assistance.

The tea shop is accepting donations of nonperishable foods through Nov. 23, which will also go toward helping families in need.