Community Services of Starke County Will Not Replace Program Coordinator

Community Services of Starke County
Community Services of Starke County

With the retirement of former Community Services of Starke County Program Coordinator Cecilia Torres-Bowman, the organization has been getting by but Executive Director Joan Haugh says it hasn’t been easy.

She says Torres-Bowman will not be replaced, and instead, her responsibilities have been divided up amongst other employees. Coordination of the resource manual, health equipment loan program, quality program, medicaid billing and prior authorization, and many duties of the food pantry have been pushed onto other employees. Haugh says they are fortunate to have an intern from Ivy Tech who has been putting forth a lot of effort with the organization.

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Torres-Bowman Announces Retirement From Community Services of Starke County

A retirement party was held for Cecilia Torres-Bowman, pictured.

Cecilia Torres-Bowman has retired from Community Services of Starke County after dedicating 20 years of her life to the organization. She says she’s done a little bit of everything while there.

“For almost 20 years, I’ve done a little bit of everything – mostly with the food pantry and the Energy Assistance Program,” said Torres-Bowman. “I also lent out health equipment and the resource manuals, so there have been quite a few things I’ve been doing.”

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Bit Of Burden Alleviated For Starke County Food Pantry

Community Services of Starke County
Community Services of Starke County

Community Services of Starke County Program Director Cecilia Torres-Bowman says the food pantry has been doing a good job of holding its own this summer, thanks in part to regular donations from the community and the presence of mobile food pantries that have been visiting the area.

While there are no fundraisers planned for the immediate future, the food pantry’s shelves are fairly stocked thanks to regular donations. Torres-Bowman says the heat has also played a part in lowering demand from the pantry.

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Community Services of Starke County Named Agency of the Year

Cecilia Torres-Bowman (L) receives the Agency of the Year award from the Food Bank of Northern Indiana

The Community Services of Starke County was recently chosen Agency of the Year.

The Food Bank of Northern Indiana recently presented a plaque to Community Services of Starke County Program Coordinator, Cecilia Torres-Bowman.

Community Services of Starke County Food Pantry currently serves over 250 families a month, a huge jump from serving 150 families in January of 2010. The pantry has matched the government commodities by 240% in 2011 and has been able to operate the food pantry through the generous donation of time and labor from volunteers.

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