People look at silent auction items at “Gobble Up Hunger,” a fundraiser for Milford Food Bank. The event was held today, Saturday, Nov. 2, at Milford School. InkFreeNews photos by Phoebe Muthart.

By Phoebe Muthart
InkFreeNews

MILFORD — “Gobble Up Hunger” was held Saturday, Nov. 2, at Milford School. The fundraiser included a haystack supper, a silent auction, run and walk races, and a live auction. The event was a fundraiser for Milford Food Bank.

Milford Food Bank, 111 S. James St., Milford, had a meager beginning in 2010, serving just five local pantries with a borrowed trailer, forklift, building and a handful of volunteers.

In 2012, operations moved to the warehouse of The Papers Inc. From this location, it served 50 pantries in 12 counties in northern Indiana and southern Michigan.

In 2017, the food bank was abundantly blessed in 2017 with the donation of a 5,000-square-foot building by the mission committee of the Apostolic Christian Church of America.

Milford Food Bank collects food from all over the United States and 350,000 pounds of food is distributed each month.

Food rescue is an important part of the organization. The U.S. wastes around 40% of its total food production throughout the food production and consumption industries. Milford Food Bank partners with other food banks and all parts of the food industry to help rescue food that would otherwise be wasted.

It is open on Monday and Friday morning for distribution to its partners throughout northern Indiana and southern Michigan. It partners with food pantries, community kitchens, residence homes, backpack programs and other community food distribution organizations to distribute food collected from across the Midwest and throughout the United States and currently serves more than 195 of these organizations.

A faith-based organization, it is the mission of Milford Food Bank to share the love of Christ by providing food to the needy and food insecure. It is not, however, a food pantry.

People had a chance to get baked goods, among other goods, during the silent auction.

During the live auction, people were able to bid on a variety of items, like sporting goods, local gift certificates, event tickets, experience packages and trips.

A haystack supper was enjoyed by the attendees, with soft serve ice cream served for dessert.

Milford Food Bank has been gifted property directly across the street to expand into. Its current proposal will allow for an added 11,000 square feet of additional warehouse and processing space. Being across the road will make inventory management and distribution simpler and more efficient, said Bill Doege, operations manager.

For more information or to donate, visit milfordfoodbank.org.

John Frauhiger, left, eats dinner with daughter, Bryn, at the fundraiser held at Milford School

Gaylynn and David McKay of Elkhart eat dinner at the fundraiser for Milford Food Bank. Their church has a food pantry and uses Milford Food Bank for its clients.

Aqua Reese, left, and Ashley Miller, both volunteers, helped serve food, such as haystacks, today, Saturday, Nov. 2.

Mary Duncan, right, chats with food bank volunteer Carol Haab, left.

Kylie Beechy, a volunteer, handed out water to people attending the dinner and fundraiser.