A philanthropic event aimed at helping stock local food pantries is slated for Monday in Putnam County. 

The annual Supermarket Sweep will take place Monday, April 17, and residents are invited to shop and donate items needed to local food pantries. 

In-kind donations can be purchased from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Greencastle Kroger.

Benjamin Sanders, a DePauw student, is looking forward to taking part in the event. 

"For the past 6 years the Hartman Center for Civic Engagement, DePauw Student Government and the Purdue Extension office have partnered together to help restock the shelves of our local pantries before we leave campus for the summer called Supermarket Sweep. Over 4,000 individuals in our community are worried about where their next meal will come from. To put that into perspective, that's 1 in 6. Most of the schools in town offer free and reduced school lunches, but over the summer that leaves many students without access to their next meal. By participating in Supermarket Sweep, people are helping us raise awareness around food insecurity, funds, and in-kind donations for the Pantry Coalitions in Putnam County," Sanders told The Putnam County Post. 

On Sunday, DePauw students will compete in challenges across campus to learn about food insecurity and win gift cards to purchase items for the pantries. One day later, the Supermarket Sweep takes place, and teams from DePauw will shop 7:30-9 p.m.

"We invite all community members to come on April 17th and donate as they shop," Sanders said. 

Sanders is a stone scholar and is part of planning and executing Supermarket Sweep and engaging students and the community to participate. 

"I'm excited to run some of the on-campus challenges on Sunday and be there on Monday to help out with donations and spreading the word. I think service is such an important aspect of DePauw, so I'm happy to be a part of engaging with the community through Supermarket Sweep," Sanders said.   

If you are unable to shop but still want to donate, cash and check donations are also accepted. Checks should be made out to the Putnam County Community Foundation: Putnam County Pantry Coalition.