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 Memorial Day, May 29.
We are saddened to report the passing of the long-time President of the Geneseo-Atkinson Food Pantry Board of Directors, Father Michael Pakula. Fr Pakula served the Food Pantry faithfully and tirelessly. He was a great asset to the Food Pantry and will be sorely missed by all of us. The conference room at the Food Pantry will now be named the “Fr. Michael Pakula Conference Room”, and we will do our best to continue his legacy.
On April 10, Bridgeway presented information about mental health issues, how to get help and how to help others in the Matthew 25 Center at the Food Pantry. We hope to provide more sessions like this in the future.
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 “Build a Healthy Plate” class on April 18 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 “Using Food to Improve Your Immune System” class on May 16 at 1:00 p.m. The public is invited.
Thank you to the Geneseo BSA Scouts who participated in Scouting for Food, and to all the Geneseo residents who donated food. Troop 131 collected 333 items on March 18. Troop 100 and Pack 100 collected 1,131 items on April 1. Great job!
Thank you to the Geneseo 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 appreciated this gesture!
Our Volunteer of the Month, Pat Rusk, has been volunteering at the Geneseo-Atkinson Food Pantry since last year. She assists guests while they choose their food. Pat has two grown children, Lisa and Jason, and five lovely grandchildren. Pat enjoys going to summer festivals, enjoying music in the park, and visiting people. She said the best thing about volunteering at the Food Pantry is talking to the guests as they pick up what they need. She likes to make them feel comfortable. Pat’s most memorable experience was when a new woman came to the Food Pantry and was looking for Pat because she was apprehensive, and she left smiling. Thank you, Pat!
Staff, Volunteers, and the Board of Directors are very grateful for Morgan Holthaus, who has been completing her practicum for her Master of Social Work at St. Ambrose. Morgan has been our intern since August and has helped with food and clothing distribution, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter special distributions, sorting donations, networking with other agencies to provide information and services for our guests, writing guest newsletters, contributing a resource guide to the network of services available to visitors of the Food Pantry. In May, Morgan will be moving on to her next internship to complete the requirements for her degree, and she will be greatly missed at the Food Pantry. Thank you for all your contributions, and Best Wishes, Morgan!
Food needs: 100% fruit juice, low sodium canned vegetables, oatmeal, and 100% whole grain pasta.
Non-food needs: Paper towels, toilet paper, dish soap, shampoo, conditioner.
Clothing room needs: Kitchen items, small appliances, bedding, towels, and size 2XL and larger clothing.