Happy New Year! The Geneseo-Atkinson Food Pantry is open: Mondays 9:00 am to 7:00 pm; Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00 am to 4:00 pm; and Fridays 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Food is distributed, and donations are gratefully accepted during business hours. We also have collection boxes in the vestibule at Fareway and at Inspire Continuing Care for donations. The Clothing room is open to all residents of Geneseo and Atkinson on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. The Food Pantry will be closed on December 23-26, and December 30-January 2 for the holidays, and January 16 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Because of the community’s generous support, the Food Pantry provided food and emergency assistance to 115 households in November. In addition to our regular food distribution, we had provided 132 families with Thanksgiving baskets. Combined food distributions in November were equivalent to 11,820 meals. Thanks to the many donors who make all this possible!
The Food Pantry partners with Unity Point to provide two Foot Care Clinics to the public each month. Nurses soak feet, trim and file toenails, help with ingrown toenails, and give a light foot massage with lotion. Please call 309-944-3165 or email geneseopantry1@gmail.com to make an appointment. Cost is $32 but Food Pantry guests are given a voucher.
Thank you to all who contributed to the Geneseo Communications and Atkinson Fire Department toy drives, and those who dropped off new toys at the Food Pantry. These toy drives ensured that guests were able to choose free gifts for their children, and they are thankful for the donations!
Forty-seven families received Christmas gifts from donors through the Food Pantry’s Holiday Gifts Program. The joy of giving was seen on the faces of the donors, and grateful smiles on the faces of the families picking up their gifts. Thank you to all who made this possible!
The Food Pantry provided food baskets for Christmas dinner to 125 guests! More families and individuals are struggling this year due to rising costs, so the food baskets provided relief to their stretched holiday budgets. Thank you to all who contributed food for the Christmas baskets.
Thank you to the Geneseo Police Department and everyone who contributed to the IMPACT Food Drive in December. 644 pounds of food was contributed, which is equivalent to 536 meals!
Many thanks to members of area churches who blessed the Food Pantry with Angel Tree gifts! Many needed items were donated along with monetary donations. Many generous donors make it possible for the Food Pantry to help those in need.
Dietitians from Hammond-Henry Hospital taught a free “Healthy Holiday Eating” class in the Matthew 25 Center at the Food Pantry. The guests tasted a delicious sugar free strawberry cheesecake and received recipes to try and information on how to take care of their health during the holidays. The Dietitians will be back to teach a “New Year New Me” cooking class on January 17 at 10:00, and the public is invited. Call the Food Pantry at 309-944-3165 to reserve your spot.
Food needs: Coffee, juice, tortillas, sugar, and tea.
Non-food needs: Diapers size 4, 5, 6; denture adhesive, denture cleaner, band aids, and dish soap.