GARY – Move over Clint Eastwood and William Shatner, there is another ‘nonagenarian’ hero in the USA, but this one isn’t acting. John Halton is the real thing, and he resides in Highland.
John “Jack” Halton is a youthful 92-year-old volunteer for Catholic Charities Diocese of Gary’s Food Pantry and Hunger Relief Services based in East Chicago, and his efforts have been recognized by being named Volunteer of the Year by Catholic Charities USA, headquartered in Alexandria, Va. With more than 200,000 volunteers serving Catholic Charities agencies nationwide, being chosen as the one Volunteer of the Year is an outstanding achievement.
As a dedicated, long-time volunteer, a few of Halton’s regular duties are to assist with unloading food trucks, stocking shelves, and sorting and packing bags of groceries to be distributed to struggling families, seniors, veterans and the disabled. In total, Halton and his volunteer colleagues served 25,900 individuals in 2023, with 2024 shaping up to provide aid to almost three times that number.
A member of Our Lady of Grace in Highland, Halton has been serving clients of Catholic Charities Diocese of Gary for five years. Besides his aforementioned ‘regular duties,’ he has built 13 raised garden beds for military veterans and low-income elderly, as well as planting 225 container gardens and distributing them during Catholic Charities’ regularly scheduled food distribution events.
“John treats everyone with respect and compassion, regardless of their age or station in life,” said Food Pantry Manager Tina Gunnum, who shared that Halton has also become a mentor and role model to her. “There is something almost magical about being in John’s presence. His gentle laughter could chase away the darkest of clouds, and his words of encouragement could lift the heaviest of hearts. He has an uncanny ability to see the best in people and to bring out the best in them as well,” Gunnum said.
“What began as something to keep me and my son, David, occupied for a few days during the week has evolved into so much more: great friends, new experiences, a blessing like no other!” Halton said. “To receive this honor from Catholic Charities USA is the cherry on top. I’m humbled for doing what I love.”
The CCUSA Volunteer of the Year Award has been presented annually since 1998 and is awarded to an individual who embodies the mission of CCUSA – to provide critical services to those in need, advocate for justice in social structures and call the entire Catholic Church and other people of good will to do the same.
Each year, more than 200,000 people volunteer at Catholic Charities agencies around the country. The agencies nominate their most exemplary volunteers for the CCUSA honor, yet only one earns the title Volunteer of the Year. CCUSA will formally present the award to Halton at its 2024 annual gathering in Oklahoma City later this year.
“With his unyielding dedication to his neighbors in need, John Halton serves as a shining example of our faith at its very best,” said CCUSA President and CEO Kerry Alys Robinson. “We are so grateful for John’s inspiring service and we look forward to honoring and celebrating him in Oklahoma City in front of hundreds of Catholic Charities staff members and volunteers from around the nation,” Robinson said.
Locally, Halton will be recognized at Catholic Charities Diocese of Gary’s annual golf outing on June 10 at Innsbrook Country Club in Merrillville.
In addition to its Food Pantry and Hunger Relief Services, Catholic Charities Diocese of Gary provides many other services to individuals and families in need The nonprofit provides its services at no cost and without discrimination to residents of Indiana’s Lake, Porter, LaPorte and Starke counties. Visit Catholic-Charities.org to learn more about programs and services in Northwest Indiana.
Caption: Jack Halton, 92, of Highland, is ready to fill more bags of groceries for food pantry clients at Catholic Charities Diocese of Gary, where he has been a volunteer for five years. Halton was recently named Volunteer of the Year by Catholic Charities USA. (Provided photo)