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 Good Friday, April 7, and Memorial Day, May 29.
On Tuesday, April 10 at 1:00 p.m. in the Matthew 25 Center at the Food Pantry, Bridgeway will present information about mental health issues, how to get help and how to help others. This event is free, and the public is invited.
The Food Pantry partners with Unity Point at Home to provide two Foot Care Clinics 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 $37. Food Pantry Guests are provided with a voucher.
Dietitians from Hammond-Henry Hospital taught a free “Fuel for the Future” class on March 7 in the Matthew 25 Center at the Food Pantry. Guests were provided with recipes for lower cost healthy dishes, a cooking demonstration, and free samples of healthy food. The Dietitians will return to the Food Pantry to teach a free “Build a Healthy Plate” class on April 18 at 1:00 p.m. The public is invited.
Thank you to all the Boy and Cub Scouts who organized the Scouting for Food drive and delivered donations to the Food Pantry. Also, thank you to all who contributed and helped stock Food Pantry shelves.
Thank you to the Girl Scouts for donating food and packing 75 baskets of ingredients for Easter dinner for our guests and candy baskets for children. Our guests really appreciate this gesture!
Geneseo-Atkinson Food Pantry Volunteer of the Month: Tom King, has been volunteering at the Food Pantry for 8 months. Tom helps guests shop for food, stocks shelves, sorts clothing, and works on other projects as needed. He has a wife, Shawn, four children, and a lab puppy. Tom enjoys camping, fishing, walking, hiking, and traveling. He said the best thing about volunteering at the Food Pantry is the feeling of giving back to the community and he enjoys working with the staff and other volunteers. Tom’s most memorable experience was when he was sorting donations and found pictures accidentally left in a wallet that belonged to a friend, so he was able to return them. Thank you for all you do, Tom!
Food needs: Nuts, seafood and poultry, fruit packed in 100% juice, whole grain cereal, low sodium soup.
Non-food needs: Paper towels, dish soap, cleaners, band aids, Ziploc bags.
Clothing room needs: Kitchen items, small appliances, bedding, towels, and size 2XL and larger clothing.