Leelanau Christian Neighbors hosts aid benefit Saturday.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in.

                           —

Matthew 25:35

Tough times and the slumping economy have spread to the Leelanau Peninsula, leading those who tend to our needy to reach out for help.

The Leelanau Christian Neighbors, a joint ministry of 14 county churches, is hosting a spring aid benefit Saturday afternoon in Suttons Bay. The message will be simple:

“We need help,” said Marilyn Nell of the LCN.  “We’re having a difficult time keeping up with the needs of the community.”

The organization actually has three ministries: the food pantry for food assistance in Suttons Bay and Northport, and the Neighborhood Assistance Ministry (NAM), which provides short-term financial assistance and a mentoring program.

During 2007, the LCN noted a 65 percent increase in demand for services from the community.  Last year, the pantries in Northport and Suttons Bay prepared and distributed a total of 4,112 bags for families, a 75 percent increase from 2006 when 2,332 families were served. The site in Suttons Bay served 321 families, while 118 were helped in Northport.

The high cost of fuel and correlating increases in food costs that are stressing a growing number of families is also affecting the mission of LCN.

In 2006, total food costs for the two pantries was $14,690. Last year, it increased to $38,563 even with a 2.4 percent increase in the goods donated. Some 14,500 pounds of food was donated to LCN in 2007, up from 14,155 the previous year. It mirrors an increase in the number of families seeking not only food, but emergency financial assistance as well.  

According to LCN’s annual report, the downturn in the state’s economy has resulted in the number of people seeking short-term, emergency financial assistance as available sources of money from other support agencies are depleted. In 2005, the group’s NAM program served 350 clients. The total jumped to 400 in 2006, and 511 in 2007.

Meanwhile, the first group of family mentoring volunteers completed their training in November,

More than 100 LCN volunteers spent an estimated 2,750 hours serving the needy in the county last year. As the need has increased, so has the workload and more volunteers are also needed to continue carrying out the group's mission.

“The increase in needs corresponds with an increase in the need for volunteers,” Nell said. “We need people to pack bags; to mentor families financially; to write grants.”

Saturday's spring benefit will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Suttons Bay. Information about all three aspects of the LCN mission will be available, as well as the county Baby Pantry.

Northport pianist Hugh Willey will entertain, and refreshments will be served.

Tickets are $5 apiece and are available through area churches, or can purchased at the door.

For more information, call Nell at 256-9799.