Local pantry asks for help. Boy collects 220 pounds of food in 3 hours. - Belleville News-Democrat

Local pantry asks for help. Boy collects 220 pounds of food in 3 hours. - Belleville News-Democrat

An 8-year-old boy saw the Collinsville Food Pantry’s recent plea for donations on social media, so he collected more than 200 pounds of food in three hours.

Director of Ministry Angelica Lipham with the pantry called it a special delivery.

“We were so touched by this little boy’s heart,” she said.

What’s even more impressive to Lipham is that the boy, Ethan Sheldon, doesn’t live in Collinsville; he’s from Belleville, she said.

Lipham said Ethan promised to return with more donations.

“As Ethan dropped off the delivery, he said, ‘I have my school doing it and three friends, and I’m not done yet. I will be back next week,’” Lipham said.

Ethan is inviting the community to help, too. He is throwing a food drive from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday at Collinsville’s Shop ’n Save, located at 717 Vandalia St.

Other recent donations to the pantry have included a monetary donation from Collinsville firefighters and 427 pounds of food and a monetary donation from Holy Cross Lutheran Cross in Collinsville.

We were so touched by this little boy’s heart.

Director of Ministry Angelica Lipham with the Collinsville Food Pantry