Dietitians bring healthy food to Logan County via mobile pantry Saturday

[March 15, 2013]  SPRINGFIELD -- On Saturday, the Capital District Dietetic Association is bringing a mobile pantry with 10,000 pounds of food -- including fresh items like cabbage, beets, carrots, onions and potatoes -- to Lincoln for National Nutrition Month. Food distribution will take place beginning at 10 a.m. in the Logan County Food Pantry parking lot at 125 N. Logan St. in Lincoln.

This will be the second year the association has sponsored a mobile pantry in central Illinois as a way to bring awareness of National Nutrition Month. The food distribution is through Central Illinois Foodbank's mobile pantry.

"We felt this was one of the best projects we've ever done," said Connie Buskirk, a dietitian from the district. "We feel it's important to bring nutritious food and recipes to those who may not otherwise be able to afford it."

The Central Illinois Foodbank mobile pantry costs $1,100 in sponsorship to help cover the costs of food, transportation and handling. The mobile pantry on Saturday includes fresh produce along with some bakery and shelf-stable items. About 500 individuals are typically served at these food distributions.

For more information on how to find your local pantry or to learn more about Central Illinois Foodbank, visit www.centralilfoodbank.org or call 217-522.4022.

Central Illinois Foodbank, established in 1982, distributes more than 8.5 million pounds of food annually to over 150 food pantries, soup kitchens, residential programs and after-school programs in a 21-county region. Central Illinois Foodbank is a member of Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief organization, as well as United Way. The mission of the Central Illinois Foodbank is to collect donated food and grocery items from growers, manufacturers, processors, wholesalers and retailers for distribution to charitable agencies serving people in need.

[Information received from Kaleigh Friend, Central Illinois Foodbank]