City employees were treated to a big thank you Friday courtesy of the Portage Faith Action Network.
Gathered at the open air pavilion on the city’s north side, employees were treated to a luncheon of barbecue pork sandwiches, mostaccioli, cole slaw, chips, assorted desserts and beverages.
Shannon Burhans, executive director of the Portage Township YMCA, said the Faith Action Network is a gathering of community churches and the YMCA. It was founded a few months ago to address various social issues throughout the community, such as homelessness. They partnered with Family Promise of Porter County and continued their meetings, tackling social issues.
When the pandemic struck, FAN continued to meet to address issues facing the community and hosted events such as a community thank you for local health care workers at Portage Porter Regional Hospital and NorthShore Community Health and held a pray chain along Central Avenue.
Burhans said they wanted to thank city workers as well; those who continued to be on the front lines, from police to fire to sanitation workers and others who kept the city running during the pandemic and decided to host the luncheon at the open-air venue. Churches pitched in as well as business sponsors Monosol and Indiana American Water.
“I like the fact that employees can come together and have lunch. I’m happy the faith community can come together to host an event such as this. They are a great group of people who recognized the great employees we have in the city,” said Mayor Sue Lynch, adding the open-air pavilion was a safe site to hold such an event.
Burhans said FAN will continue to address social issues within the community and is always looking for additional partners. For more information on the group, visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PORTAGEFAN/
