Bluffton Community Assistance Program’s board of directors approved a 2019 budget totaling $25,600 at its Jan. 21 annual meeting, according to Ed Yeager, board president.

Income is anticipated at $20,000 from public donations. Other income is from the program’s bank account.

“We are fortunate to receive tremendous monetary donations from our community each year,” said Yeager. “Our donors are individuals, groups, organizations and special fund-raisers throughout the community.”

Bluffton Community Assistance Program assists persons in the Bluffton school district.

The major expenses anticipated in 2019 includes $17,500 for food and groceries for the program’s food pantry housed in the St. John’s United Church of Christ.

The board also allocated funds for its back-to-school supplies program, disaster victims, medical, client services, stranded motorists and operating supplies.

Jami Crawfis, volunteer director, provided the following 2018 statistics for the food pantry:
• Approximately 46.5 families visited the pantry each month
• The program had 12 new client families
• “Adopt-a-family” Christmas program assisted 66 families, including 146 individuals of all ages
• Food pantry attendance included 300 children, 662 adults with a total of 962 individuals served

Crawfis said that throughout the year several organizations host food drives. For example, food collection drives from Bluffton Post Office, Boy Scouts, Middle School, resulted in over 2,000 items collected.

A first-time event for Stratton’s Auto in 2018 was a back-to-school supplies drive which provided back packs and supplies to local students.  In the spring Bluffton Diesel Services and Southgate Lanes held a drive called Feed Bluffton that brought in a very large donation of food and supplies to the food pantry and a generous monetary gift as well. 

A Bluffton Battle of the Businesses held at the bowling alley, sponsored by Stratton Auto Group, Southgate Lanes and CCR Realty generated $2,400 to the food pantry.

Several additional community organizations volunteered in 2018.   In 2019 PromoHits will donate a portion of its sales to four local non-profit organizations, one of which is Bluffton Community Assistance.

Board members of the Community Assistance Program are: Ed Yeager, president; Andy Althaus, treasurer; Fred Steiner, secretary; and Janette Reineke, Basil Meyer, Lin Rumer and Pat Rodabaugh.

Here's how to donate food items:
Canned and packaged food items may be taken to St. John’s United Church of Christ weekdays   from 9 a.m. to noon.  The pantry workers ask that items be delivered by the Wednesday before the third Saturday Distribution day and after the Wednesday evening distribution. Stocking the shelves and preparing the pantry is done on the Thursday before Distribution Saturday. Ring the doorbell on the College Avenue side of the church to deliver food items.   

Food distribution dates
Food distribution dates are the third Saturday of each month from 8 to 11 a.m. and the Wednesday, which follows the third Saturday from 7 to 8 p.m.

The food pantry is open to residents of the Bluffton school district. An application for food assistance is available during the monthly food distribution dates.

Monetary donations accepted
Persons are also encouraged to make monetary contributions. Those may be mailed to:
Bluffton Community Assistance Program
PO Box 52
Bluffton, OH 45817