Community Food Drive in Jasper Breaks Record, Raises Nearly $7,000

Friends of IU, working with local businesses and community volunteers, completed the 21st annual food drive in Jasper and set a new record by raising nearly $7,000, co organizer Keith Bartley reported. The collected items and funds were delivered to the Community Food Bank on December 20 in coordination with Holiday Foods and Amanda Drew, executive director of the food bank.

Organizers said Bartley Chiropractic and Sternberg Automotive Group helped coordinate the campaign, and several area businesses and medical professionals contributed donations. Local Scouts Easton Schneider, Cole Seng and Zeb Bartley assisted in loading and unloading donations, helping move the delivery to the food bank distribution center ahead of the holiday weekend.

The Community Food Bank served more than 15,000 grocery orders this year, a figure that highlights sustained demand for food assistance in Dubois County. That volume of distribution means the record drive arrives at a time when community resources remain stretched. The nearly $7,000 raised and the donated food will bolster the food bank during the winter months when needs typically intensify and program budgets face pressure from steady demand.

For local residents the immediate impact is practical and measurable. Donations support the food bank capacity to supply groceries to households in need, and volunteer labor keeps operational costs down so limited funds can be directed toward direct assistance. The drive also reflects a long running pattern of civic engagement, now in its 21st year, showing that private sector giving and volunteerism remain central to the county safety net.

Looking ahead, the food bank continues to seek volunteers to support distribution and sorting operations. The record result this year provides short term relief and a reminder that ongoing community support and local policy attention to food security will be necessary to address persistent demand. For residents who rely on or support local assistance programs, the drive is both a tangible boost this season and a signal of the continuing role local networks play in meeting basic needs.