The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
by David Grimes, Special For The Quill
Henderson County's three food pantries are always ready to accept your donations for our neighbors who truly are in need.
But the next 30 days will be especially critical. It will be a time for reflecting and giving thanks for what we have been given stewardship over, and is the perfect time to give of ourselves to those less fortunate around us.
The Gladstone food pantry, which is located at the Henderson County Health Department, is overseen by Gloria Short.
The Lomax food pantry is located at the First Nazarene Church and is considered by the church to be an extension of its ministry to the county.
The Oquawka food pantry is located at the Henderson County Housing location in Oquawka and operates completely on private donations.
While Gladstone and Lomax receive assistance through the Department of Human Services, each of the three pantry locations are run as separate entities.
Oquawka receives no government assistance other than a portion of a grant administered through the Western Illinois Regional Council in Macomb, and shared by the three pantries.
Because Oquawka receives no government assistance in the way of grocery items, and relies solely on private donations, it does not receive regular inspections.
But the Oquawka pantry does use the same government guidelines as Lomax and Gladstone in determining eligibility for assistance.
A person living alone is eligible to receive pantry assitance if their income does not exceed $973 per month, according to Short.
"A household of eight family members qualifies when the monthly income does not go above $3,354," Short said.
Households of more than eight individuals are allowed an additional $340 per month per additional person.
While Oquawka relies totally on private donations, government assistance for Lomax and Gladstone can run thin and private donations are a primary source for what they are able to share with the community.
This month, for instance, Short said Gladstone received just four types of food items-apricots, plums, frozen chickens and frozen hamburger in government assistance.
Short estimated that 75 percent of what the Gladstone pantry is able to share with county residents in need comes from private donations.
"The holidays will be a critical time for us," Short said.
The Gladstone food pantry provided assistance to 63 households and a total of 140 individuals last month alone.
All three pantries are happy to receive food donations, but also stress cash donations are acceptable and often generate more assistance than if the donor buys the groceries on their own.
Contacts with area grocery stores and businesses can see the pantries purchase specifically needed items for pennies on the dollar.
Brenda Pulley at the Lomax Food Pantry talked of the need as one elderly couple on a fixed income came for food when their medicine for the month took all their funds. "They were forced to choose between the two," Pulley said, and they came to get enough food to pull them through the month.
"Another mother came walking in with two children and said they hadn't eaten for two days," Pulley said. "She didn't have gas money for the car so I gave her gas from my lawnmower so she could put it in her car and drive down to get some food."
Pulley showed records from the first three days of November where 30 households with a total of 100 family members had signed in from around the county for grocery assistance. She regularly takes a truck to a food bank in Moline after she receives enough financial donations to buy food items. It is sold to qualifying Food Pantries at an extremely discounted rate, she said. Her last visit showed she was able to purchase over $7,000 worth of grocerys for around $600.
The holiday and winter months are really crucial to many in our small communities. Donations of any size are greatly appreciated.
Pantry hours vary with each location, so it's best to call the particular location you plan to visit.
The Lomax Food Pantry can be reached by calling Brenda Pulley (217) 449-3444, the Gladstone Food Pantry Gloria Short at (309) 627-2812, and Alice Craig for the Oquawka Food Pantry at (309) 867-6551.