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🌱 Patch AM: How one Gary church kept the lights on and neighbors fed

You won't want to miss Friday and Saturday Cigar Lounge Sessions at Miller Beach Cigar Bar on the Gary Patch calendar

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Wednesday September 9th Patch AM
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Good morning Gary! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How one Gary church kept the lights on and neighbors fed
  • Why so many Gary families lost food and then lost SNAP help
  • How an I‑80/94 semi crash shut down Gary's morning commute

Also on today's calendar: Farmer's Market and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: Why did the burglar wear blue gloves? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Couple of thunderstorms, with a high of 81 and low of 68 degrees.
  • Thursday: Clouds breaking; less humid, temps: high: 78, low: 59.
  • Friday: Sunny; warm with low humidity, with a high of 83 and low of 63 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. How Years of Preparedness Paid Off (redcross.org) — Progressive Community Church in Gary has become a crucial resiliency hub, keeping power during recent storms thanks to solar panels, a backup battery and Red Cross support. The church used its hoop houses and supplies to share fresh produce, safety kits and training with neighbors who lost electricity and food, strengthening Gary's disaster readiness.
   

2. Families lost weeks of food they couldn't afford to replace. Then their SNAP claims were denied. (newsfromthestates.com) — After a powerful storm left Gary without power for two weeks, many SNAP recipients lost freezers full of food they couldn't afford to replace and then saw their claims for replacement benefits denied. Local mothers describe scrambling for food distributions while advocates question whether Indiana's SNAP replacement rules are too restrictive and urge broader relief for Gary households.
   

3. Driver ejected in overnight semi crash on I‑80/94 (wbiw.com) — An overnight semi crash around 3:30 a.m. near the Burr Street exit on I‑80/94 in Gary left one truck driver seriously injured and shut down eastbound lanes for about eight hours. Indiana State Police say a moving semi sideswiped a parked Amazon-hauling truck in the gore area, ejecting the Chicago driver, while investigators continue to review possible charges.
   

4. Nick Podkul named Methodist Hospital player of the month (nwitimes.com) — Gary baseball fans get a look back at the RailCats' 2026 season, where the team set several offensive records despite a losing record. Local slugger Nick Podkul capped his first year in Gary by earning Methodist Hospitals Player of the Month and tying the franchise home run mark while driving in 71 runs.
   

5. Northwest Indiana police better prepared for 'events once considered unlikely' (nwitimes.com) — Gary's police department is now part of Indiana's District 1 Response Task Force, a regional coalition that shares training, equipment and planning for large emergencies. Alongside Valparaiso and other agencies, Gary officers are doing more joint drills and intelligence-sharing to better handle complex crises that could strain a single department's resources.
   

📸 Around Gary

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Starts today, Tuesday , September 8th.
    Learn oral history interviewing techniques for use in local history, family history and storytelling with Samuel Love. Gary Public Library - Woodson… (Nextdoor Miller Beach)
  • Need counseling or just a sympathetic ear?
    St Barnabas in the Dunes pastors Pamela and Charlie are here to help. Tuesday noon to 2pm; Thursday noon to 2pm; Friday 3pm to 5. Walk ins welcome… (Nextdoor Miller Beach)
  • Quanta Services posted a job opening for Field Quality Manager in Gary. Apply here.
  • O'Reilly Automotive posted a job opening for Retail Service Specialist in Gary. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Gary here.

Ok Gary! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: So he wouldn't get caught red handed. (Thank you Vicki B. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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