Thirty-five years ago this month, a collaboration of small churches in the Indian Lake area and several local service groups came together with a common goal — to care for and meet the food-insecurity needs of individuals in the community. Today, the legacy of the founding members of the United Christian Services of Indian Lake Food Pantry continues in the thousands of lives touched by the ministry’s dedicated volunteers.
“For a community of small churches, we proved you don’t have to be a large church or mega church to accomplish great things,” past organization president Cynthia Defibaugh said. “You just simply work together for the glory of God and not self.”
Currently, food distributions take place from noon to 3 p.m. on the second, third and fourth Thursdays each month out of the Russells Point Municipal Building, 433 State Route 708, Russells Point, Current President Dale Frymyer said.
Frymyer began his involvement with the organization in 2015 after being impressed observing the group of volunteers hard at work in the community.
“I saw them passing out food, and I had just retired from Honda, so I thought, ‘What a great timing that now I can get involved, too.
“It’s a great organization, and we have so many people who give of their free time and retirement to help others.”
Defibaugh, who served as president from 2000 until approximately 2008, said the attitude of the volunteers at the pantry also has inspired her.
“We’ve had many, many volunteers over the years. Good people with great hearts who have an agape love for others.”
Frymyer said with recent difficult times experienced by area residents, including unemployment struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic, the pantry has experienced an increase in demand for services, including a record number of families, 117, who utilized the food bank April 9.
In addition, the pantry has moved to a drive thru style distribution, where participants pull up and items are loaded directly into the trunk of their vehicles for the safety of everyone involved.
Representatives said prior to the May of 1985 founding of the organization, many of the local churches and service groups were running their own programs to help those in need. Pastor Jim Dinkel of Galilee Lutheran Church saw the need to organize these efforts collectively and called a meeting of the area pastors, along with their lay leadership. Out of this meeting, the idea for the United Christian Services of Indian Lake was formed.
The original nine area churches that helped to start the ministry were: Indian Lake Community Church, Galilee Lutheran Church, Huntsville United Methodist Church, Huntsville Presbyterian Church, Lewistown United Methodist Church, Christ United Methodist Church in Lakeview, Lakeview Trinity United Methodist Church, Lakeview Missionary Church, Grace Chapel Church of Christ in Christian Union in Santa Fe.
Today, Frymyer said between seven and eight local churches currently support the ministry through donations of food and volunteer assistance.
Also active in the organization in the early years included the St.Vincent de Paul Society, the Salvation Army Chapter of Indian Lake, and Friends Serving Friends.
The qualifications to join were a commitment to the work of UCS by “giving their time, their talents and their treasures.” No one was to be asked to give a set amount, but everyone was asked to give what they were able to give, Defibaugh related.
Pastor Dinkel also became the first coordinator of UCS and the food was first stored in the basement of Lakeview Trinity United Methodist Church on Lake Street, in a building that has since been razed. Items were distributed out of Galilee Lutheran Church, located on Lincoln Boulevard in Russells Point.
In its first months distributing from May to July that first year, the group helped 40 families. In addition, 30 individual and 98 multi-person food baskets that fed more than 400 adults and children were given out the first Thanksgiving in 1985.
Last year, Frymyer said the pantry provided services to a total of 5,850 individuals, including 1,491 children, 2,453 adults and 1,980 seniors. During 2018, the pantry served a similar number of individuals, 5,816.
In 2019, total food distributed to recipients equaled more than 100,000 pounds of food in the Indian Lake area. Food items come from donations and those items purchased from the Second Harvest Food Bank and local grocery stores.
Relating to the partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank, Defibaugh said after she joined the organization in 2000, she applied for 501(c)3 status with the Internal Revenue Service in order to allow donated dollars to go further in the purchase of food, a difference of $8 to $1.
“That status was granted and the food pantry was able to purchase food items through the national food bank ‘Second Harvest’ out of Springfield…that was a game changer for UCS. The money went so much further,” she said.
A $10,000 grant also was obtained at that time through the United Way of Logan County to assist families with foreclosures or eviction notices. UCS also expanded its food offerings by applying for and receiving funds through Logan County Electric Cooperative’s “Operation Round-up” program to purchase its first freezer.
This allowed the organization to offer frozen meat along with such food staples of canned soups, vegetables and fruits, dry goods like pasta and beans, Defibaugh said.
The past president and current president also expressed their appreciation to the community and local churches for all of their generosity for helping to keep the pantry running for the last 35 years.
Frymyer related that the Huntsville United Methodist Church recently hosted a food drive during Lent, and now the organization’s shelves are “well-stocked,” he said.
Monetary donations are always appreciated, and can be mailed to the non-profit organization at: P.O. Box 56, Russells Point, OH, 43348. Food item donations also may be dropped off at the pantry during regular distribution hours.