Rescue Mission receives record number of hogs at auction

Posted: August 15, 2009

By Peter Adelsen

GREENTOWN - Cheers rang through the Lion's Pavilion from Kokomo Rescue Mission supporters each time the mission received a donation of pork and beef at the livestock auction on Thursday.

The mission partnered with Metro Kiwanis and Erik's Chevrolet in receiving donations for its "Beef-Up the Mission" campaign.

"We were given 75 hogs and that's the most ever that we have been given," said Bebe Dorris, director of development for the Rescue Mission. "We were just bowled over. It's huge! That will see us through the year with pork."

The total amount of hogs up for auction was 119 at this year's auction. The mission also bought one steer out of the two for auction, she said. Many of the mission's employees allow the organization to take out some money from their pay checks to buy animals at the auction each year, she said.

Prior to the auction, the freezers at the mission were pretty bare, she said.

"We depend on the beef from the auction," she said. "Almost three months ago, we ran out of beef."

The amount of people eating at the mission has grown rapidly, she said. In 2007, the mission served 106,000 meals. In 2008, they served 121,000 meals and so far in the first six months of 2009 they are on pace to serve 140,000 meals this year.

"This really matches to the state of the economy," she said. "The question is- pay the rent or buy food? That's a choice for a lot of people."

The Rescue Mission is hoping to get a couple more steers to help with a shortage of beef at the Clinton and Carroll county fairs on Friday, she said.

"We are just blown away at the generosity of businesses who donated the hogs. We are so grateful."

Link: http://kokomoperspective.com/news/article_c6298753-fc03-5dad-8732-889041d7f23c.html