September 10, 2009 – Our Town – Delaware

People in Need food pantry.

Photo courtesy of People in Need

New Home for People in Need
Good friends: OWU and PIN

We’ve heard the adage that “with great power comes great responsibility,” but for those who are involved with People in Need Inc., a not-for- profit social service agency funded by United Way, it is more like “with great space comes great service.” The largest food pantry that operates in Delaware County and a member of Mid-Ohio Food Bank has moved into its new home located in Delaware at 138 Johnson Drive. According to the People In Need (PIN) Web site: “With 7,200 square-feet, sufficient warehouse space, 24’ceilings and a drive in loading area, the new facility is centrally located to our clients.”

“It is our fourth home, given that we had outgrown the previous facility and we couldn’t serve any more people in our previous location,” says Kevin James Crowley, executive director of People in Need. “Now that we have moved here, we are able to serve a greater number of clients.”

Aside from the new headquarters, PIN also has developed new procedures for the way they render their services involving food dispersal.

“We have a frequency guideline whereby people have an opportunity to obtain food one day every month. Our benchmark number is nine meals, so if somebody comes to us requesting food items, he or she could obtain a three-day supply of food for their family including taxable items that people can’t buy with their food stamps,” says Crowley.

PIN also offers assistance other than the food pantry such as emergency services, emergency housing, medical and dental services, Holiday Clearing House, shoe drives, and help with school supplies.

For Sue Pasters, OWU director of community service learning, PIN has been a good friend of Ohio Wesleyan’s.

“Students are involved in many ways which involve food points donations and at times, buying and donating items bought at Thomson store,” says Pasters. “We need to remember that there is a need in Delaware which people might not readily see, so it is very important to give locally.” Ohio Wesleyan students and staff often take the lead in helping out in the community.

One of the events that OWU sponsors is the annual Crop Walk, scheduled for October 4. PIN is the local beneficiary with 25 percent of the proceeds going to the agency. PIN also participates the service fair on campus.

“With Ohio Wesleyan’s participation and the important roles that students and others play, I have been able to count on them for their support,” says Crowley.“I get to see people [in our community] benefit from the students’ hard work.” He adds that “When we touch the lives of others, it helps a lot of people in profound ways that we may not even know or see right away.”

John Naughton, associate director of admission, who recently joined the PIN’s board of directors last May, is active on the capital campaign of PIN, launched last year. “Students, faculty, and staff are free to contact me if they want to donate, help, or volunteer for PIN,” Naughton said.

To learn more about People in Need, please visit their Web site.

– Dianne Macasu ’10