Wheaton Lions Club Hosts Third Annual Community Food Drive

The Wheaton Lions Club is collecting non-perishable food from Wednesday, September 15 until Friday, October 1, 2021 as part of a community-wide food drive for People’s Resource Center. The club will partner with businesses in Wheaton, Carol Stream, Warrenville, and Winfield, and invites the public to fill the boxes with food donations to meet the current demand.

People’s Resource Center’s (PRC) Wheaton Food Pantry distributes food to DuPage families each month. During the Covid-19 pandemic, demand for food has increased as many families are facing new challenges and turning to PRC for assistance. Since the pandemic began, PRC has provided more than 60,000 boxes of food to DuPage families. Executive Director Jeni Fabian shared, “Many neighbors are turning to PRC for the first time, due to the continuing hardship of the pandemic and economic uncertainty. Our focus is to safely provide food and social services to families, and to reach as many neighbors as possible with online programs such as Jobs Assistance, Literacy support and Art enrichment. We’re grateful to the Wheaton Lions food drive for shining a light on local needs and rallying the community to address hunger!”

Last year, via the Lions Club, the community donated 4,152 pounds of food, which went directly to hungry neighbors. Marty Keller, Wheaton Lions Club President, states …

“This is the third year for the Wheaton Lions Club to host the HUNGER event for the benefit of People’s Resource Center. Thanks to the Wheaton and Carol Stream communities, over 10,000 pounds of food have been donated to the PRC food pantry over the past two years. In addition, cash donations are used to purchase diapers and house cleaning supplies for the PRC clients. This year our Warrenville Lions colleagues are joining the campaign to further expand our reach. We appreciate the opportunity to support our neighbors through your kind donations.”

PRC is looking forward to the food drive and continued engagement with the community and the Wheaton Lions. The current list of items in greatest demand includes the following:

Canned Food: Tuna or Chicken, Vegetables, Soup, Pork and beans, Legumes/beans, Spaghetti sauce, Fruit

Personal Care Items: Shampoo, Body wash, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Deodorant, Bar soap, Liquid hand soap

Household Cleaning: Spray disinfectants like Clorox or Lysol, Laundry detergent, Disinfecting wipes

Diapers: Child Sizes: 3 and up, Adult diapers: All sizes, Baby wipe

NOTE: Perishable food and products past their expiration date will not be accepted.

Go to http://wheatonlions.org/lions-food-drive.php to find the nearest donation box.

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ABOUT THE WHEATON LIONS: The PRC food drive is part of the Wheaton Lions Club “Focus on Hunger” which also supports one of the Club’s primary “Pillars of Service” in the community.

ABOUT PEOPLE’S RESOURCE CENTER: Since 1975, People’s Resource Center has been bringing neighbors together to respond to hunger and poverty in DuPage County. With a team of over 2,700 volunteers, we offer nutritious food and other basic necessities like clothes and rent assistance for people facing tough times. We also connect people with resources—education and tutoring, jobs, technology, art, a caring community—to create a future of hope and opportunity for all.

For additional information:
Carl Alston
Marketing & Communications Manager
630.384.1355 (office)
630.202.8294 (mobile)
calston@peoplesrc.org