WASHINGTON COUNTY — UCC Food Pantries in Washington County are in need of donations.
They say the recent reductions in assistance from the SNAP program and rising food prices, both the Addieville UCC Food Pantry and the Irvington UCC Food Pantry have seen a dramatic increase in patrons being served by the pantries.
According to the organization, people served at the pantries has increased from January to June of this year, with Irvington UCC Food Pantry serving 271 people in January and 463 people in June.
Addieville UCC Food Pantry, which opened in October 2022 to better serve the western part of Washington County, has increased the number of people the group is able to assist in the county and has seen a similar increase, serving 150 people in January and 282 people in June.
Foods most needed are peanut butter, cereal (non-sugary preferred), canned meat or tuna and macaroni and cheese. Farmers or hunters who would be so generous as to donate meat – beef, pork or deer (that is commercially processed) are also very much appreciated.
Toiletry items always needed include toilet paper, soap, toothpaste, dish soap and laundry detergent. Donations of fresh produce from local gardens is also appreciated.
Monetary donations can be mailed to Jane Dick, Food Pantry Treasurer, P.O. Box 516, Okawville, Illinois. Any food or toiletry donations, including produce from local gardens, can be dropped off at the Addieville pantry at 4:45 p.m.anyWednesday and at the Irvington pantry at 8:45 a.m. on the 1st and 5th Saturday or 10:45 a.m. on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Sunday.
The Addieville UCC Food Pantry is located at 71 West 1st St. in Addieville. The Irvington UCC Food Pantry is located at 303 S. Church St. in Irvington. The Addieville Zion UCC Church generously provides the facility for the food pantry which opened in October of 2022.
Friedens UCC Church in Irvington has provided the facility for the Irvington UCC Food Pantry, located at 303 South 3rd St in Irvington, since its inception in 2007. The pantries are a ministry of the UCC churches in Washington County.
For further information on donating or volunteering to help at either food pantry, please contact Priscilla Self, Food Pantry Secretary at 618-318-0083.