Pack the Pantry event benefits Salvation Army 360 Life Center

Hallie Gallinat, Pharos-Tribune, Logansport, Ind.
·3 min read

Oct. 10—Despite the lower temperatures Friday night, spirits were high at the Salvation Army 360 Life Center as it held the first Pack the Pantry Car & Bike Cruise In.

With vintage cars and motorcycles parked outside of the center on Wilkinson Street for attendees to view, Randall Birk, director of ministry and operations at the Salvation Army 360 Life Center, said the idea behind the event is to help fill their food pantry and feeding program.

"People have brought food, hygiene products, canned goods to the event tonight," Birk said. "So, we've been able to put a lot of stuff in the pantry already."

According to Birk, cars and motorcycles were brought in from not only the community but from around the Midwest, including Michigan, Ohio and Illinois. A taco vender was available as well as community partner booths, such as American Rental and First Farmer's Bank and Trust, and booths for the organizers, Birk said. Angie Cole, a volunteer and case manager at 4C Health, said a DJ performed at the event and 46 gift certificates were raffled off as door prizes. Several businesses also donated to the food pantry, Cole said, such as Arby's, China Lane, Silver Lake, Bed and Biscuits and Holiday Inn.

"The taco truck was here, they're local... Logan Rico Tacos, they donated 10% of their sales. We had Giovanni Sweet Italian Ice Cream... they also donated 10%, but they didn't do very well because it was cold, unfortunately. So, they left early...," Cole said. "We also had Krysevig Electric... who's been a business in Logansport for many years... they donated a $200 check to the food pantry."

A trophy booth was also set up by the sponsor Mopar Outlaws, with various trophies to be given away to winners at the show in categories such as top 10 cars, top 10 motorcycles, best of show for cars, best of show for motorcycles and Randall's Choice, which was named after Birk, Cole said. Awards for some of the helpers they had, including president of Mopar Outlaws Joe Winstead and president of the Abolafia Motorcycle Club Logansport chapter Randall Gard, were also given out.

"Weather's kind of yucky and didn't do good for us. But, you know, we did pretty good and I think we're going to raise a good amount of money for them... A lot of people in our community come together and donated a lot of nice prizes for this event," Cole said. "I just want to thank everyone for doing that because, I mean, we have an amazing community we live in and people don't realize how lucky we really are to live somewhere like this."

Birk said the event was important to the center because of growth. He said they are seeing the need for the food pantry and the food program is growing tremendously, as they have seen their food program almost quadruple in three months. According to Birk, they are feeding an average of 60 people a day and in the month of September, they served 1,076 people in Cass County through the food program, Birk said. While he said the turnout was lower than expected and the weather made a difference in that, he said the event served its purpose.

"We have actually gotten lots of donations, but we've also gotten a lot of exposure. So, a lot of people have been exposed to the center for the first time," Birk said. "They didn't realize Salvation Army was here at this end of town, and also they didn't realize how big the center was."

The event was sponsored by Mopar Outlaws and Abolafia Motorcycle Club Logansport.

Upcoming events at the center include Coats for Kids on Saturday, Oct. 14. Birk said the center's Facebook page will be updated with more events and the center is always looking for more volunteers. The Salvation Army 360 Life Center is located at 620 Wilkinson Str. and can be found online at centralusa.salvationarmy.org/logansport/.