Central Illinois Foodbank and Christian Child Care distribute food boxes to 250 families
 

[May 14, 2020]    On Friday, May 8, the Central Illinois Foodbank partnered with Christian Child Care to host a free food distribution at the Lincoln Banquet Center.

There were pre-packed food boxes given to 250 families.

During this challenging time the Disaster Household Distribution Program is allowing Foodbanks to increase access to food.

Christian Child Care Director Libby Canady said she was contacted by Wes Ridgeway of the Central Illinois Foodbank about the daycare providing five or six volunteers and a location for the distribution. Canady said the daycare parking lot would not work due to concerns about traffic and logistics.

The Lincoln Banquet Center was then able to provide use of their large parking lot.

Once the Foodbank had the details in place, Canady sent out a call for CCC staff to volunteer. Canady said, the Foodbank organized the distribution and 13 CCC staff volunteers helped get the food into the hands that needed it.

The food distribution was to last from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., but by 2 p.m. cars were lined up all the way to the light by the old Taco Bell on Madigan Drive. Once the food boxes were unloaded, cars began coming through with CCC staff directing two lanes of traffic. By 3:30, staff had distributed all 250 boxes, placing them in the back seats and trunks of cars.

Volunteer Jody Ruff, who helped direct traffic, said people expressed appreciation for the event and the needs it fulfilled.

Volunteer Toni Bauer, who helped load boxes into vehicles, said many told her “Thank you and God bless.”

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As they drove through, each family received a pre-packed box with a variety of foods including fruit, eggs, soups, sauces, beans, juices and meats. The Disaster Household Distribution Program uses existing inventories of USDA-purchased foods for the boxes.

The Foodbank is holding food distributions in five different counties providing non-contact distribution to families.

[Angela Reiners]