Letter from Executive Director Mark Mikel
The Center Map at the former Central School in Nappanee, IN
June 2020
As unusual as it may seem to be writing an annual report in the middle of June, it seems fitting given the way 2020 has gone so far. From the COVID-19 pandemic to the recent protests against systemic racism, our lives, our society, and our community have felt out of sorts. There is talk of nothing being normal until the new normal comes along. We have had to adjust how we shop, how we socialize, how we worship, how we work, and how we conduct business.
Thus far, in 2020, The Center has seen an increase in the amount of food and dollars that we have dispersed to the community in response to the pandemic crisis. With funds from the Hospitality Relief Fund through Visit Nappanee, The Center has dispersed housing and utility assistance close to $9,000 to workers in the food service industry. The Center is one of five Elkhart County agencies that received funds through a grant from United Way and the Community Foundation of Elkhart County, The Center has helped 13 families with another $10,000 in rent and utility assistance. Granted, those are not funds The Center raised directly, but it demonstrates the reputation we have for making sure needs get met and it is evidence of the trust our community and county puts in our staff to help those in need.
In March when the schools closed and students were forced into distance learning, The Center collaborated with Wa-Nee Community Schools Food Service and Transportation to produce and deliver lunches for as many as 370 students. Eight sites were utilized to distribute the lunches that were delivered by bus and manned by school personnel and volunteers from the community. Nappanee Missionary Church was instrumental in providing help. The Center relied on the organization and structure we had in place for the Summer Lunch Program to guide the school employees and the volunteers in making sure kids had food. The Friday Backpack Program did not miss a beat during the shutdown. Quite the opposite. Friday delivery of frozen Cultivate meals increased from 70 to 100 students each week. Our partners at Cultivate were able to meet our need for meals, and again NMC volunteers stepped up to get those meals to students’ homes.
The Center has had to be adaptable and flexible, as we have navigated the first part of 2020. The Food Pantry switched from the usual “shopper’s choice” system to a curbside delivery service (and in some cases a home delivery service) in an effort to keep our guests, our volunteers, and our staff safe and healthy. No questioning of the need. No grumbling of the change. No “can’t tell me how to live my life and do my job.” Only humble service to the members of our community who needed help.
I would love to be able to tell you what the next year has in store for The Center. One thing I feel confident to predict is that at some time in the fall we will be moved into the new space at Central School. The other thing I am confident about is that we will continue to demonstrate the love of Christ by bringing together the resources of our community in order to transform our community.
As uncertain and sometimes scary as these times can be, they are also exciting times to be in position to serve our community and celebrate with our guests the changes they experience and the relief and joy they feel when The Center intersects in their lives.
Join in support as we strive to “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.”
Mark Mikel
Executive Director