Above / Naperville Sunrise Rotary hosted a Drive By Food Drive for West Suburban Community Pantry at Naperville Country Club from 7AM to 8:30AM Fri., March 20, 2020. Pictured are Sunrise Rotarian Tim Belgio and daughter Penney who contributed to the food drive. (Photo by Bruce Dixon, Sunrise Rotary)
Update, March 20, 2020 / Members of the Naperville Sunrise Rotary Club held a Drive By Drop Off meeting today instead of their normal Friday morning breakfast meeting, while practicing social distancing. Joined by members of the community, the Club collected 650 pounds of food, including 250 diapers, to donate to West Suburban Community Pantry.
Original Post, March 19, 2020 / In lieu of a regular Rotary meeting, the Rotary Club of Naperville Sunrise is holding a Drive By Drop off food drive meeting tomorrow morning, Fri., March 20, from 7AM to 8:30AM in front of Naperville Country Club, the Club’s regular meeting place, organizers said.
The no-contact event is planned to support West Suburban Community Pantry which serves more than 4,000 people each week from Naperville, Lisle, Woodridge, Bolingbrook, Westmont, Willowbrook and Romeoville. In the past week, the demand on the Pantry has risen by 30 percent and donations from local retail grocers have dropped due to low supplies.
“We’re so lucky to have so much in our community,” said Deb Newman, public relations chair for Sunrise Rotary. “It’s easy to forget the unseen families and seniors who struggle every day, and that group is growing now as people lose their jobs and kids who depend on free and reduced school breakfast, lunch and snacks having less access.”
Newman continued, “Sunrise Rotary is dedicated to helping kids and families thrive in our community. This was a great opportunity to help that effort while still practicing social distancing.”
Non-Perishable Items Needed
Boxed Sides (Rice-A-Roni) and Boxed Dinners (Hamburger Helper)
Pasta and Pasta Sauce
Canned Tomato Products
Canned Fruit and Vegetables
Canned Beans and Canned Soups
Pancake Mix and Syrup
Boxed Potatoes
Canned Chicken and Tuna
Peanut Butter & Jelly for Kid’s Lunches
Diapers
Club volunteers will have a car parked in front of Naperville Country Club, located at 25W570 Chicago Ave.
Donors may simply drop donations on the curb or load donations in the car and wave hello. All donations will be delivered to the Pantry at its Seven Bridges location later in the day. For additional information or to donate to West Suburban Community Pantry visit www.wscpantry.org.
For more information about Rotary Club of Naperville/Sunrise, visit www.napervillesunrise.org.
Fresh produce helps fill needs at Loaves & Fishes Community Services
In addition, members of the Rotary Club of Naperville-Downtown, a group that meets weekly at 4:44PM on Wednesdays at Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House, have coordinated a fresh produce pick up from Quigley’s Irish Pub with the aim to contact other restaurants as well.
“We have fresh produce as well as fresh bread that needs to be used,” said Nancy Quigley, owner of Quigley’s Irish Pub who also is a Downtown Rotarian. “Mike Havala is a member of our Rotary and he’s often explained the needs of his organization. My daughter is working with George Wood at Loaves & Fishes to coordinate pick up.”
Wood said any restaurant with fresh produce or fresh daily deli is welcome to give him a call at (630) 640-8429. Already-prepared foods cannot be used.
Wood also said that in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, and in order to best serve clients under the circumstances, Loaves & Fishes Community Services has modified its in-market shopping services.
Right now to fill the needs of families who use Loaves & Fishes, all orders are “drive-through.”
Earlier, Loaves & Fishes noted that the low-income families they serve may be especially impacted by the economic and/or medical consequences of the coronavirus and the public reactions to this situation. Given their mission to provide healthy food to promote self-sufficiency, staff and volunteers are working to continue food distribution through this challenging time.
“Since we didn’t get to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, you could say this idea is a way to share our good Irish luck,” said Kevin McQuillan, president of the 4:44 Rotary.
