Love INC to celebrate successes at banquet

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GREENFIELD — It’s no coincidence Love INC has its annual banquet right around Valentine’s Day each year.

The local nonprofit is known for being true to its name and spreading love to the hundreds of Hancock County residents it helps each year.

From its headquarters at 630 N. State St., Love INC runs a clearinghouse of goods and services, connecting those in need with food, clothing and other necessities.

“Our purpose is to connect people with needs to the church and the community, which fills those needs,” said Love INC’s executive director, Karla Whisenand.

In 2018, the nonprofit helped meet 1,288 needs benefiting 918 families, including 780 children. The numbers aren’t tallied yet for 2019, but should be close to the same, Whisenand said.

Three staff members and a team of volunteers field calls from the community, connecting families with local churches and resources like the county’s food pantry, soup kitchen and homeless shelter. They also offer prayer.

“We try to give people support to get out of their current situation, to get their lives back on track,” Whisenand said. “Our mission is to mobilize local churches to transform lives and communities in the name of Christ.”

Love In the Name of Christ of Greater Hancock County is part of a national movement of other Love INC affiliates across the United States and beyond. The local program helps provide resources as well as education, partnering with churches and nonprofits in offering workshops on sewing, cooking, cleaning, budgeting and jobs skills.

The Hancock County Extension Homemakers and Love INC have offered a variety of I CAN classes this month, including a budgeting class on scheduled for Monday, Jan. 20, and a job skills class on Jan. 27. The free classes are held from 6-8 p.m. at Bethel Baptist Church, 1610 S. State St.

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Love INC will have its annual Love Thy Neighbor Banquet from 6-8:30 p.m. Feb. 13 at Trinity Park United Methodist Church, at 207 W. Park Ave. in Greenfield. Free-will donations will be accepted to support the nonprofit’s ministry.

To register for the free banquet or Love INC workshops, visit www.loveinc.ghc.org or call 317-468-6300. For banquet sponsorship opportunities, email Karla Whisenand at [email protected].

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BY THE NUMBERS

Since 2004, Love INC of Greater Hancock County has been helping churches reach out into the community to share hope and effect change.

Number of Calls received and processed: 1,087

Numbers of Needs expressed by callers: 1,530

Numbers of Church Referrals: 874

Needs satisfied through Acts of Service: 198

Needs satisfied through Product Ministries: 1,400

Needs satisfied with Financial Assistance: $37,054

Number of Volunteers: Over 1,700

Volunteer Hours (estimated): Over 6,600

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Love INC is always seeking donations and volunteers.

Donations can include canned and boxed foods, cleaning supplies, hygiene projects, paper products, kitchenware, blankets, baby items, medical supplies, furniture and appliances. The agency always needs handy men and women to help with simple home and appliance repairs.

Volunteers are needed to field calls and run the clearing house, to serve as mentors in the Hearts of Hope money management workshop and to help with simple home and appliance repairs through the Handyman Help program.

To get involved, visit www.loveinc.ghc.org, call (317) 468-6300 or email [email protected].

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