HOPE — The Hope Town Council is hoping to provide some assistance to small businesses and residents in the town.
“From what I know, there are probably two businesses around the town square that have not been hurt badly,” Susan Thayer Fye told the Hope Town Council.
Even before COVID-19 began damaging the national economy, the latest census data showed the median household income in Hope was about 20% lower than the comparative median figure of $60,152 earned by families in Columbus. That same data shows 6.3% of Hope residents living in poverty, while 6% had no health insurance.
After unemployment soared last March, the town council approved sending $1,000 a month to the Hope Food Pantry, located in the Community Center of Hope, from April through June.
But even though unemployment has improved, demand at the pantry has increased monthly since October, according to Chelsea Warriner, the center’s executive director.
But it’s likely the worst is yet to come. After talking with the organization, council vice-president Clyde Compton said the food bank is anticipating an additional 30% increase in demand from January through March.
That prompted outgoing council member Nellie Meek, who will be replaced by John Walstad next month, to propose that the town provide $1,000 to the food bank every month through all of 2021.
However, that may not be legal because that money is not part of the town’s 2021 budget, Compton said. In addition, there are statutes that limit how much food one food pantry can receive at one time,” he said.
“Without that limit, large food banks can hog up everything,” Compton said.
After discussion, the town council voted to provide the food bank $1,000 a month from January through March, as well as assign a council liaison to the food bank. If that liaison still sees a large need in March, the council can provided additional funds at that time, Compton said.
First elected to the council in 1995, Compton said this year is the first time he can recall that the food pantry has been forced to ask the council for financial support. In the past, all shortfalls were handled by churches and individuals, he said.
Under normal circumstances, the food bank is only open from 8:30 a.m. until noon on Tuesdays. But due to increased demand, the center has been occasionally opening the pantry on either a Tuesday or Wednesday evening, Warriner said. Upcoming night openings are posted in advance on the Community Center of Hope’s Facebook page, she said.
Although expanded hours have brought in new food pantry clients, Warriner acknowledged that pride is often a reason why someone who needs the help won’t seek assistance from a food pantry.
“There is no reason to let pride get in the way, because even those of us who are working there have used the pantry before,” Warriner said. “It’s more of a supplemental thing. We all need a little help now and then, especially around the holidays.”
Meanwhile, the Indiana Main Street organization is offering to partner with local Main Street groups to keep businesses from shutting their doors for at least the next 12 months, Thayer Fye said. If the Main Street board in Hope, as well as the town council, are willing to sign a 12-month contract by Jan. 4, the town could receive opportunities such as additional business support and grant opportunities, she said.
But that contract also calls for the town council to provide financial incentives for the historic district and preservation efforts, as well as fulfill additional responsibilities that may come up later, Thayer Fye said. Board members will also be required to fulfill a number of different obligations if they agree to the contract, she added.
While council member Ed Johnson said he felt the town square businesses must be supported, councilman Ohmer Miller said the town is not in any position to throw money at a problem while Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb is still placing COVID-19 restrictions on all Hoosier cities and towns.
Another concern expressed by Compton is that downtown development in Hope has dominated much of the town’s resources in recent years.
“Everybody seems to forget that we do have other businesses in this town outside of the square,” the council vice-president said.
No decision was made Tuesday on whether the town will sign the contract with the Indiana Main Street organization.
Finally, one of their first cancelations for 2021 was announced this week. The Groundhog Day ceremony will not be held this year. Last February, the event attracted more than 160 visitors and received television coverage from multiple Indianapolis stations.
