Posted: Dec. 15, 2016 9:00 pm Updated: Dec. 15, 2016 9:32 pm
MOUNT STERLING, Ill. -- By Saturday morning, Dot Foods will have donated $50,000 of food to area pantries through its Neighbor to Neighbor program.
The efforts began six years ago to celebrate the Mount Sterling-based corporation's 50th year of operation. The 2010 donation was a full truckload of products given to a Feeding America food bank in the area of each of Dot Foods' distribution centers across the country. In 2014, the company opted for a direct-to-pantry approach.
"It's an opportunity for 10 different pantries to receive $5,000 in product," said Pat Tracy, Illinois Charitable Committee member and former chairman of the Dot Foods Board. "Opportunities like these are very important because they are in the places our employees live. It is the employees of the Dot team that really power this company."
While addressing a crowd of volunteers and food pantry representatives Thursday in the Dot Foods warehouse, Tracy recounted a story he heard from a Dot Foods employee. Stretched beyond his means, the employee began using a food pantry to make ends meet. Tracy swelled with pride as he described how effectively the man bounced back after becoming a Dot Foods truck driver.
"Every community has a significant need now," Tracy said. "Many will not always be completely visible to every one of us, but the need exists with seniors, single-parent households and kids."
Tracy said he hopes Dot Foods can serve as "a bridge that helps cover the gap" in times of personal crisis.
Pantries are able to select the items to be donated from what is essentially a shopping list. The Two Rivers Regional Council of Public Officials' food pantry in Mount Sterling received the first donation Thursday morning. A truck departed immediately after the brief warehouse ceremony, and several Dot Food employees were on hand at the Two Rivers pantry to unload the pallets.
"We struggle all year long to keep up with the need," said Becky Pruden, Two Rivers community services director. "If it weren't for donations from Dot and other programs, it would be almost impossible. This is truly a blessing."
The shelves at the Two Rivers pantry are depleted before Christmas as items are redistributed through the Christmas Baskets program.
"Our pantry is completely bare right now," Pruden said. "With this, we will be able to replenish before we open back up again next week."
With Illinois in fiscal turmoil, private donations have become increasingly important to food pantries. Two Rivers relies almost entirely on donations and grants, and "the grants aren't what they used to be," Pruden said.
"Without donations like these, we wouldn't be able serve as often," she said. "We'd have to cut back on the days we offer it. With this, we will be able to make meals with what we already have."
Between the Two Rivers pantries in Brown and Pike counties, Pruden said more than 1,000 people receive food on a monthly basis.
"It is a great thing for this corporation, especially as big as Dot is, to recognize the need in the community," she said.
Tracy said supporting the various pantries in Adams, Brown, Cass, Hancock, McDonough, Pike and Scott counties was a no-brainer.
"It has to deal with food," he said. "It just so happens we're in the food business."
