Volunteers Respond to Storm Challenges in Valparaiso

Thursday evening brought rain once again, and a portion of Valparaiso remained in darkness without power due to storms earlier in the week. Despite the weather, Nana Clare’s Kitchen on the city’s north side was lively. Volunteers were busy chopping vegetables, preparing tomato-topped bread, packing green mac and cheese, and cleaning dishes.

Michelle Danielewicz, a volunteer from Portage, used her phone to check the spelling of ratatouille while labeling meals at Nana Clare’s Kitchen in Valparaiso, Indiana. This kitchen has been a hub for Feed the Region, founded by Steph Talarek, who began offering free meals in February.

Talarek, who hopes to achieve nonprofit status soon, aims to provide free meals for anyone in need, regardless of their background. She is exploring possible expansions to Lake County, intending to make meals available across a six-county region.

On Thursday, volunteers gathered to distribute over 300 meals, which included deliveries. Along with meals, small vases of flowers from Chesterton’s community garden were given to recipients. Talarek, dressed in Feed the Region attire, emphasized her commitment to this cause. She and her husband, Adam Stranc, both in different professional fields, decided to give back after overcoming their struggles.

Typically, around 100 meals are prepared with six to eight volunteers, but the recent storm altered this pattern. Talarek previously delivered meals to Wheatfield after an April tornado but noted that the current situation in Valparaiso was more dire due to widespread power outages.

Volunteers like Brenden Hess, aged 10, were engaged in preparing the “ugly bread” with his mother Amy and Kelly Enderson. Usually serving 100 meals, the team adjusted to prepare over 300 due to the storm impact.

Social media played a vital role, with posts by Talarek encouraging meal pickups for those in need. A volunteer planned to collect 15 meals for distribution. Jody Gawthrop from Hobart found Feed the Region through social media and joined due to its mission and outreach efforts.

Brenden, who often helps with food prep, expressed his willingness to continue volunteering and plans to raise funds through a lemonade stand once the weather improves. His mother highlighted his dedication to tasks like foil-wrapping bread for transport.

Another volunteer, Carol Presdorf from Hobart, contributed by handling dishes. While she doesn’t cook, she supports Talarek’s mission by assisting with vegetable prep and cleanup.

The meal preparation included pasta, bread, and likely chili. With canned beans on standby, Talarek pointed out how stored food, preserved thanks to the kitchen not losing power during the storm, was essential during this time.

For further details about Feed the Region, visit www.feedtheregion.org.