Food pantries across Champaign and Urbana distributed food to provide Thanksgiving meals for more than a thousand families this season.
The majority of the pantries’ food items are bought at a discount from the Eastern Illinois Foodbank, which receives both monetary and food donations from local businesses throughout the year.
Foodbank community relations manager Kristen Costello said monetary donations are especially helpful because the foodbank’s food dollar extends further than food donations. A $1 donation to the foodbank buys ten times as much as a consumer could.
On Nov. 17, St. Luke’s Christian Methodist Episcopal Church served dozens of families and provided canned goods, fresh produce and even perishables. Since June 2010, the church has been attending to local families on the third Saturday of every month. Patricia McKinney Lewis, director of St. Luke’s food pantry and University alumna, highlighted the immense need in the community this time of year.
“This is my first time here,” said Champaign resident Andrew Barber as he stuffed food items into a duffel bag in preparation for the bus ride home. “It’s pretty nice. They give me food for the holidays.”
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Urbana’s Stone Creek Church also hosted a Thanksgiving event for area residents in need. The church’s annual Big Give event was held Nov. 18 and 19. Angela Bradley, director of Stone Creek’s food pantry, said the church had more than 1,000 families preregister for the event.
“Thanksgiving is a tradition that unites us as Americans,” Bradley said. “We want to eliminate any economic barriers.”
The Urbana Meijer helped provide turkeys, green beans and other items for a full meal and leftovers for the event.
“Every little bit always helps. It’s just a wonderful thing people are doing for the community,” said Regina Owens, of Rantoul, Ill., who picked up food at the event. “Everyone was friendly.”
On Nov. 20, Glory Center International in Champaign served hundreds of families by providing the ingredients for a Thanksgiving meal. Families received fresh produce, such as spinach, salad greens and coleslaw as well as a turkey and all its trimmings.
Many attendees praised the church’s efforts.
“This is a good church … they make sure you have a complete Thanksgiving meal,” said Latoya Dillon of Champaign. “I’m planning on coming Sunday to show appreciation.”
On-air personalities SuavA and TAT of Hot 105.5, staff at Prime Sole shoes and Champaign Mayor Don Gerard appeared at the event.
“(Glory Center International members) meet the need; they rise to the occasion. This is wonderful,” Gerard said. “They have a partnership with the community (and) with the private sector, and they step up and they do it with a smile, and they do it with a heart full of love, so it’s really a wonderful thing.”
Ilya can be reached at [email protected].
