Area food pantries are gearing up for Thanksgiving and Christmas distributions, but they also have persistent day-to-day needs.
Illinois Valley Food Pantry
Illinois Valley Food Pantry is getting prepared for their Thanksgiving food basket it gives out to 650-675 families, or 1,600-1,700 people on Nov. 18.
The pantry is looking for donated food such as instant potatoes, boxed stuffing mix, canned vegetables, canned fruit, corn muffin mix, canned yams, turkey and Jell-o.
If interested in signing up to receive a food basket, go to the pantry and sign up if already a client. If not already a client, you must apply with the office.
The pantry gives foods to those living in La Salle, Peru, Oglesby, Utica, Cedar Point, Lostant, Tonica, Leonore and Lowell. The pantry will ask for proof of residency but won’t turn those in need away.
The pantry is looking for personal products, cleaning products, toilet paper and diapers to be donated.
Volunteers with “strong backs and happy hearts” are needed, said executive director Donna Hess. Volunteers need to be able to lift heavy items.
“Without the support of the communities and volunteers, we just couldn’t do this,” she said.
To sign up as a volunteer, call the pantry at (815) 224-3658.
Monetary or food donations may be brought to the location or mailed to 136 Marquette St., La Salle. Working hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday, 9 a.m.-noon, Wednesday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Compared to last year, the amount of people they’ve served as decreased slightly, but Hess said “our need is still great.” Food costs more and their expenses have gone up, Hess said. The pantry serves around 650 families per month.
For more information, call (815) 224-3658 or visit the website at ivfoodpantry.com.
Hall Township Food Pantry
Thanksgiving distribution — 10 a.m.-noon and 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15 at the food pantry, 500 N. Terry St., Spring Valley.
If looking to donate specifically to the Thanksgiving distribution, Hall food pantry executive director Jan Martin said the best way is to sponsor baskets.
“What we do is we sell baskets and they are $35. And people can sponsor a basket in honor of a loved one or for a family, etc.,” Martin said.
Then the pantry orders all the food for the distribution and they typically feed around 400 families for the Thanksgiving holiday.
General donations: If looking to help stock the pantry’s shelves through winter, Martin said Hall could use things like peanut butter, tuna and dairy products. Also, microwavable meals are in need for those who might not have the means to cook a full meal.
Putnam County food pantry
GRANVILLE — Since 1998, the amount of people served by the Putnam County Food Pantry in Granville has more than doubled, said manager John Shimkus.
The pantry serves 70-90 families a month, and the only requirement to be served is that the person be from Putnam County and provide proof of residency.
Their Christmas basket program started last week, which will provide families who sign up with food and toys for children. If people are interested in signing up they should come in to fill out a form 8:30-10:30 a.m. Saturdays up until the first week of November.
Shimkus said they’re not actively looking for volunteers, but people can call him if they’re interested.
He says “we’ll take anything,” for supplies to be given out, and by anything, he means personal products (e.g. laundry soap, dish soap, toilet paper) and anything someone can eat.
Compared to last year, he said there’s been a small decrease in the amount of people served.
For those interested in donating money, finding out information, or volunteering, call Shimkus at (815) 339-2618.
The pantry is located at the United Church of Christ, 103 Church St, Granville. The church’s phone number is (815) 339-2305
Mendota area pantries
Mendota Area Christian Food Pantry manager Beverly Banks said they are always looking for donations of food, money and staples and they could also use more volunteers to help distribute the supplies.
Even before the holidays get into full swing, she said September was one of their highest months with 401 people representing 140 households served. Usually they serve 350-360 people a month.
The pantry serves Mendota and the surrounding area including Earlville. Sharing Hearts in Earlville makes monthly donations to the pantry and also helps coordinate food drives with local churches and community organizations.
Mike Hall said the Sharing Hearts organization has offered assistance to other community organizations that help feed children when school is out and the local Lions Club’s Helping Hands program that will deliver Thanksgiving food baskets again this year.
In Mendota, Banks said they always need sloppy Joe mix (“goes as quickly as we get it in”), canned beans and other vegetables, canned ravioli/spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, canned soups, pancake mix, tuna fish, and any pop-top foods that are easy to open and microwave for kids which includes spaghetti, ravioli and lasagna. They also need low sugar foods and protein drinks for those with special diet needs.
The pantry also needs laundry detergent, baby food and diapers, plastic bags in quart and gallon sizes and garbage bags.
The holidays will also increase the need for sweet potatoes, fruit cocktail, cranberry sauce, green beans, mashed potatoes, boxed stuffing, packets of turkey gravy, Jello and corn Muffin mix.
Donations are accepted from 9 - 11 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Monetary donations may be mailed to Mendota Area Christian Food Pantry, 918 Main St., Suite 1, Mendota, IL 61342.
For more information on how to help, call the pantry at (815) 538-2211.
Western Bureau County Food Pantry, Sheffield
“Our numbers at the Western Bureau County Food Pantry have remained very consistent over the last eight years, said Mary Lanham, manager of the pantry at 123 S. Main St., Sheffield.
“We continue to average approximately 70-80 families every month, with an average of 220 individuals served. We currently have a good number of volunteers, but are always welcome to more. Anyone interested in volunteering should just stop by our Pantry during our regular hours on Wednesdays (9-11 a.m. and 4-6 p.m.). We have volunteers ranging in age from 16-82. It’s a great group to work with. They look out for each other way beyond what happens during Wednesdays at the Pantry. It’s become almost like family,” Lanham said.
“We are currently collecting food for our Thanksgiving baskets, which will be handed out on Nov. 15. We have ordered the turkeys, but still need sweet potatoes, canned pumpkin, stuffing mix, boxed pie crust mix, green beans and corn. We have asked area churches to help in that effort also, she said.
“We are always in need of pretty much any kind of canned fruit, peanut butter, toilet paper, hamburger and tuna helper, canned soup, cereal and pasta. When people ask what they can donate, my stock answer is “anything you put in your own cart at the grocery store.”
Ali Braboy, Brett Herrmann, Tamara Abbey and Kim Shute contributed to this report. To reach the NewsTribune newsroom, call (815) 220-6935 or email ntlocal@newstrib.com.
