Food pantries need your help
Area food pantries are stocking up for the holidays, and more supplies are always needed.
Judy Fiste, director of the Bureau County Food Pantry in Princeton, said the needs of the food pantry are increasing as the number of patrons served increases.
“We have been extremely busy. We’re seeing a lot more people with larger families,” Fiste said. “I think the increase is because the economy is bad, and the cost to buy foods just keeps going up. People are finding that wages just aren’t covering expenses.”
In October, 235 individuals came into the Bureau County Food Pantry for foods and paper products, compared to 207 people in September and 140 people in June. The local food pantry also has a monthly delivery of USDA commodities of meats and food products, which served 314 individuals in October.
Local donations are always needed, Fiste said. Supplies were extremely low last week until area Boy Scouts canvassed Princeton and Tiskilwa collecting donations for the food pantry. Some businesses are also collecting goods for the food pantry. An estimated 200 pounds of food items were collected during Saturday’s garage sale at the Bureau County Fairgrounds.
Donations are also needed for both everyday and holiday meals at the Hall Township Food Pantry in Spring Valley. Candyce Wolsfeld, director of Project Success of Eastern Bureau County which operates the food pantry, said the numbers of clients served has increased this year, and the pantry needs “everything.”
“Cereal, we need lots of cereal, tuna, canned pasta, macaroni and cheese and fruit, either fresh or canned,” she said. “We also need baby food, juice boxes and soups.”
Wolsfeld said the pantry also welcomes donations of meat and frozen food.
All of this year’s holiday baskets have been purchased for Thanksgiving, and now the food pantry is trying to raise enough money for the Christmas baskets. Each basket costs $30, and the pantry will accept donations of any amount to help pay for them.
In addition, Wolsfeld said there is always a need for more baskets at the last minute, so donations of turkeys or hams are also appreciated.
Checks may be sent to P.O. Box 208, Spring Valley, IL 61362. Food donations may be left at 500 N. Terry, Spring Valley, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., or at Spring Valley City Bank.
Director Kathy Crayne said there are also more and more people needing the services of the Wyanet Food Pantry. Some of those people use the services long term; others use the food pantry to just get through a rough patch, Crayne said.
Additional food products and supplies are always needed, Crayne said. Monetary donations are especially helpful since the food pantry is able to buy foods through a regional food bank. A $10 donation will buy $50 worth of food through the food bank.
The Wyanet Food Pantry is open from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursdays at the United Methodist Church, located at 112 W. Main St. Any supplies can be brought to the church. Checks can be mailed to the church and marked for the food pantry.
As a special outreach, the Wyanet Food Pantry is also sponsoring a toy drive, from Nov. 22 through Dec. 16, for patrons of the food pantry.
Helping the Wyanet community through the food pantry is a rewarding experience, Crayne said.
“It’s wonderful to do God’s work, and this is what we see as the food pantry’s purpose,” Crayne said. “The people who give to the food pantry are angels. The people who receive are very grateful.”
In northern Bureau County, the Walnut Food Pantry is housed in the United Methodist Church, located at 111 E. Liberty St. Hours are 5 to 7 p.m. Thursdays. The contact person is Deanna Wilt.
The Western Bureau County Food Pantry will be located in the Concord Township Building in Sheffield. Donations and commodities are being collected for the food pantry, which is slated to open in January.
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