On Valentine’s Day, we express our love to the special people in our lives. One way to do that is to make a donation to the Food Pantry in honor of someone you love or care about. An acknowledgement of your gift will be sent to the honoree, and you will receive a thank you in the mail.
Unemployment remains high in our area, and many people with jobs have had their hours cut. These facts contribute to a steady increase in the number of people who need assistance from the Food Pantry to feed their families. Monthly client numbers average between 60 to 70 families and singles. We expect this number to steadily grow until the economy starts to turn around. Your prayer, support, and donations are keeping up with the increased need and we appreciate the many ways in which you provide assistance to those who need it.
Beginning February 1 representatives from AARP will be at the Geneseo Public Library to assist people with tax preparation. They will be available every Monday and Wednesday afternoon from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm through April 11. This service is provided free of charge.
In February and March we will continue our focus of encouraging clients to make wise choices to stretch what little food dollars they may have. Betty Gavin, University of IL Extension Outreach Representative, is periodically available when clients come to pick up food. Betty provides low cost recipe ideas using ingredients that the Food Pantry has available. She also takes a minute to speak personally with each client. It is challenging to consistently find low cost nutritional foods that all members of the family enjoy, and people appreciate Betty’s help.
If your closets have too many clothes and not enough space, you might consider donating outgrown or no longer needed clothing items to the Food Pantry. We especially need baby and children’s clothing of all sizes. We also take household items. We have an ongoing need for items such as kitchen utensils, pots and pans, plates, cups, silverware, etc. Your help is appreciated!
Food needs for February are: sugar, cereal, canned fruit, pancake syrup, pancake mix, soda/graham crackers, rice, spaghetti sauce, and hamburger helper.
Non-food needs are: diapers (all sizes), laundry detergent, dish soap, Chap Stick, and OTC cold relievers.
January 2012
We hope that you and your loved ones had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas!
Our prayers are filled with thanks and gratitude for the many blessings that have come from throughout the community during the 2011 holiday season. Our clients have had the opportunity to see God’s love at work through the donations of time, clothing, toys, food, and money. This lesson is learned and remembered by many who are helped this time of year. Geneseo is a giving and caring place, and we are lucky to experience the love for others that is shared on a day-to-day basis.
During January, our focus is on goal setting for the upcoming year. All clients who do not have high school diplomas are encouraged to begin working toward GED readiness and classroom work. Job-seeking, budgeting, and parenting skills are also areas where we encourage our clients to be more ambitious and improve on.
As food costs continue to rise we also continue to stress the importance of making wise choices when grocery shopping. We access many resources, in addition to the coupons you have been donating, to make smart grocery shopping a habit. This will be another main focus for our clients in 2012.
We are always in need of blankets, coats, snow pants, boots, etc to help keep our clients warm throughout this winter season. If you have any of these items that are gently used and no longer needed, the Food Pantry would welcome your donation.
Thank you for your support throughout the year. We ask God to bless you and your families during 2012.
Food needs for January are: Sugar, soda crackers, graham crackers, cereal bars, pancake syrup, catsup, mustard, mayonnaise
Non-food needs for January are: lotion, laundry detergent, dish soap, diapers, and cleaning supplies
