A Bluffton Community Assistance (CAP) food pantry volunteer assisted a client whose young child was having a birthday.

The client couldn’t afford a birthday cake. When the mother came to the food pantry and discovered boxed cakes supplies and frosting, there were tears in her eyes.

Bluffton middle school and high school students, who brought donations from Christmas food drives, learned about this story.

As Ed Yeager, CAP board president, shares: “Following that, ‘whooom’ - bunches of baking supplies and cake mixes came pouring in.”

The original cake mixes and birthday supply bags were given by the Girl Scouts, so the story really started with them. It demonstrates that the entire community participates in the sharing process.

The Community Assistance Program continues to serve individuals and families in the Bluffton school district, offering a variety of assistance in 2016.

CAP’s board reorganized on Jan. 17 for 2017. Some of the highlights of the reorganization meeting follow:

• The board approved a $20,000 operating budget.

The budget’s major item allocates $12,000 for the food pantry, operated by the assistance program. The food pantry provides clients in the Bluffton school district with groceries, paper products, detergents, soap, personal hygiene items and pet food.

Other budget items – each has a monetary limit per client use:
• Back-to-school program – back packs and school supplies
• Disaster victim support – assist with victims of fire, wind and water damager
• Rent and utilities – assist with rent payment or deposit and utilities
• Medical – assistance with pharmacy bills, glasses
• Other client services – for example, mattresses
• Stranded motorist assistance – gas cards, auto parts and motel assistance

Jami Crawfis, volunteer director of the Community Assistance Program, reported on the past six-month activities of the organization. Following are some of those highlights:

• The food pantry has approximately 90 client families, and from 38 to 50 clients receive monthly assistance.

• 139 people were adopted for Christmas. This included 57 “family units.”

• December was the largest month for monetary donations; this year’s total was $8,352.

• The food pantry is open from 8 to 11 a.m., the third Saturday of each month and on the following Wednesday from 7 to 8 p.m.

• Countless donations come from individuals, businesses and churches, which include food staples and monetary donations.

• During 2016 the program had 15 new client families, which totaled 22 persons.

Groups and individuals interested in making donations to the Community Assistance Program may contact Ed Yeager at 419-302-7715, Jami Crawfis at 419-236-2944 or St. John’s UCC (Sue Hardwick or Pastor Carol Clements) at 419-358-5641.

Monetary donations may be mailed to:
Bluffton Community Assistance Program
PO Box 52
Bluffton, OH 45817

Donated food items may be taken to the College Avenue entrance of St. John’s United Church of Christ, Bluffton, between 9 a.m. and noon weekdays.

Bluffton Community Assistance Program is a non-profit volunteer organization providing supplemental food and assistance to qualifying community members in the Bluffton school district area on a short-term basis.

Board members and officers are: Ed Yeager, president; Andy Althaus, treasurer; Fred Steiner, secretary; Janette Reineke, Basil Meyer, Lin Rumer and Pat Rodabaugh. Jami Crawfis is the director of the program.

The board’s annual meeting is at St. John’s United Church of Christ at 7 p.m., Monday, June 19.