(La Porte, IN) - A strictly online fund raising drive will be held on Tuesday to help fight hunger in La Porte.

 

The PAX Center, affiliated with State Street Community Church, is staging the annual event.

 

Pastor Nate Loucks said more than $60,000 was raised online last year to purchase food at a significant discount for the pantry, which serves about 9,000 people a year.

 

The food purchased with the funds includes meat, fresh produce and dairy items to go along with the traditional non-perishable items.

 

“We try to do all of that and in order to do that we need help from the community,” he said.

 

The goal this year is to raise at least $60,000.

 

Loucks said the food is purchased from the Food Bank of Northern Indiana, which is able to offer prices low enough for a $500 donation to feed 67 families for a week.

 

To donate, go to thepaxcenter.com and click Giving Tuesday at the top of the page. Loucks said people can actually start donating now in advance of the event.

 

He said people who prefer to donate in person can also show up at The PAX Center at 605 Washington St. with their monetary gifts.