Summer is traditionally a time of vacations and fun in the sun. While leisurely living is reality for some, others find summer months more difficult for stretching already limited budgets. As requests for help at local food pantries increase, food donations decrease at this time of year.  Economic conditions continue to affect the number of people asking for help at area pantries.

Heart of Illinois Harvest (HOIH) is a not-for-profit local food rescue program that transports over five tons of donated food each week to local agencies and food pantries for distribution. Founded in 1992, the agency relies on community support to help feed the hungry.  Such support comes through businesses and stores donating food, individual monetary donations, volunteer help and grants.  Securing funds for ongoing expenses continues to be a challenge.

Harvest Board Chairman Jay Buehler recently announced that Harvest received a grant award from The Thomas and Ellen Foster Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Illinois to assist with fuel expenses of the two vehicles owned by Harvest for transporting donated food.

At the recent HOIH Annual Meeting, Marjorie LaFont, Extension Educator at the University of Illinois Extension office, expressed her thanks for the bread products that HOIH delivers to assist with the Summer Nutrition Program. Over 400 sandwiches are prepared daily.  Food delivered to non-profit agencies helps defray the cost of the agencies’ food budgets.

Businesses in the community are encouraged to donate food items to Harvest. Volunteers pick up food and distribute it to appropriate agencies and pantries. The Good Samaritan Food Donor Act removes liability of individuals and businesses that donate food in good faith. This donated food also reduces the amount of food that must be purchased and prevents edible food from going to landfills.

For more information check out the website hoiharvest.org or call (309) 693-0876 or email hoiharvest@sbcglobal.net.