Massive Food Drive Benefits Area Residents

Members of the Buffalo Grove Rotary Club, along with the Wheeling Rotary Club and area students, gathered Monday afternoon to assemble boxes of food that will be given to families in need.

The boxes were packed with pasta, soup, canned fruits and vegetables and other non-perishables collected by the participants. Rotary members contributed some of the items, while others were donated by students at Cooper Middle School and Wheeling High School. The high school students added a community outreach component to the collection; they solicited donations from nearby residents last week and picked them up from homes over the weekend.

The project has been annually for about 40 years, organizers said.

"The need has grown bigger and the collections are good, too," said Denny Snyder, who coordinated the effort for the Buffalo Grove Rotary Club. 

Boxes of food will be given to 90 local families this weekend. The recipients will also receive $25 grocery store gift cards, intended for the purchase of a Thanksgiving turkey.

The remaining food donations will be given to Community and Economic Development Association (CEDA), a Cook County nonprofit organization that provides assistance to citizens.

Want to help?

Area food pantries accept donations throughout the year. Nearby pantries include those at the Vernon Township office, Wheeling Township office, St. Mary Church, Congregation Beth Am and Kingswood United Methodist Church.