The shelves of the Kewanee Food Pantry have never looked emptier, and the board of directors is issuing a dire plea for help from the community.
On Thursday, The Kewanee Voice delivered checks totaling $1,150 to the pantry, along with food donations collected at the news outlet’s office from staff and community members.
“We are overwhelmed and grateful for the outpouring of support from the community,” said Voice Publisher Michael Berry.
Still, pantry board president Barb Gross is urging organizations currently collecting food and money not to delay in delivering their donations. The need, she said, is immediate.
Last week alone, nearly 200 families sought assistance from the pantry. On Tuesday, a record 104 families came for food and supplies. By Thursday, another 94 families had visited—at least 10 of those families were first-time clients, Gross said.
While November is always a busy month due to Thanksgiving meal distributions, this year’s demand has been made worse by cuts to November SNAP benefits.
Many local organizations are holding food and fundraising campaigns to benefit the pantry, but some are waiting until the end of their drives to turn in donations. Because of the urgent need, The Kewanee Voice staff chose to deliver their contributions early, though they will continue collecting through the end of November as part of their Gratitude November campaign.
Gross said the pantry’s most pressing needs are peanut butter, cereal and canned fruit. “Peanut butter is a good source of protein for kids,” she noted. Cash donations are also welcome, as pantry Director Lisa Janey can stretch those dollars further at the food bank.
Gross emphasized that the pantry serves only residents of Kewanee within the 61443 ZIP code to ensure local families have access to food.
The pantry is open Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Thursdays from 3 to 6 p.m.
Donations can be dropped off through the end of the month at The Kewanee Voice office, at 121 N. Tremont Street, during business hours: Monday–Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to noon. For more information, call 309-489-2721.
