Christmas giving Logansport Memorial Hospital brought cases of apples, tangerines, and bananas, along with monetary gifts, to the Carroll County Food Pantry locations in Flora and Delphi last Friday. A crew delivered a total of about 120 cases to the two locations, partnering with SYSCO Foods. The two pantries also shared the fruit with churches and other community projects that help others during this Christmas season. Judy Ayres, pictured, received the fruit and check donation at the Flora location, and Bob Arney received them at the Delphi location. Both serve on the Food Pantry Board. LMH president and CEO Brian Shockney, pictured with Ayres, presented the checks. Comet photos by Jennifer Archibald Logansport Memorial Hospital delivered fresh fruit and cash donations to local food pantries in Cass and Carroll counties last Friday.

Brian Shockney, the hospital's president and CEO, said this donation is a way to help communities face the challenges of the current economic downturn.

"Memorial Hospital and its employees are thankful for their jobs and the ability to work in an organization that cares for its employees as well as the community," Shockney said. "Our local food pantries are feeling the pain as they have already served more people this year than last year."

The Salvation Army, Emmaus Mission Center, Walton Food Pantry, and the Carroll County Food Pantry in Delphi and Flora benefitted from the donation.

LMH and its employees partnered with SYSCO Foods, Inc. to make this effort possible. LMH Executive Leaders and SYSCO personnel made the deliveries to all the food pantries Friday afternoon. Employees of LMH also held a food drive during the week to collect provisions for the Our Daily Bread Food Pantry located at the East Main Street Church of God in Logansport.

"We trust that these gifts from our employees and hospital will make a difference in improving the health of those in need during this season of hope," said Kathy Shepler, chairman of the LMH board of trustees.

"We are very pleased and happy to receive this wonderful gift of fruit and monetary donation," said Judy Ayres from the Food Pantry in Flora. "The sizable monetary donation will get us through the winter a lot easier."

Ayres said this and other donations received this month are greatly appreciated and will go far in meeting local needs.