ELKHART — Around 200 volunteers converged on Granger Community Church today, Jan. 26, to fill hundreds of boxes with food for those in need.

The volunteers met at the Bristol Street church this morning, filled the boxes, then delivered them to Church Community Services in Elkhart. Volunteers also gathered at Waypoint Church west of Middlebury, filling boxes earmarked for the Middlebury Food Pantry.

Around 1,700 boxes were delivered to Church Community Services and the Middlebury Food Pantry, according to Granger Community Church. The Elkhart County effort was part of a broader campaign involving Granger Community Church and other churches. All told, nearly 8,000 boxes were delivered to eight food pantries around northern Indiana.

“It gives nutritional help, but it also gives hope for the next day and next week,” said Gene Troyer, pastor of the Elkhart campus of Granger Community Church. “This is what this is about — giving hope back to the community.”

The individual boxes, containing things such as pasta, canned goods and peanut butter, will be delivered by the recipient agencies to families in need.

Granger Community Church dubs the effort its Food Drop, and this year's installment marks its 12th year. Aside from providing nutritional sustenance, the aim is to show food recipients that someone cares, providing an emotional boost as well.

Troyer estimates that over the past 10 years of Food Drops, Granger Community Church has delivered around 1 million pounds of food. In years past, GCC volunteers have delivered food directly to families in need.