Poshard Foundation awards grants to area food pantries
In anticipation of the coronavirus outbreak closing schools and putting pressure on area food pantries to provide emergency assistance to more needy children, the Poshard Foundation has distributed $50,000 in grants to 28 area pantries across 16 Southern Illinois counties.
The grants range from $1,000 to $3,000 depending upon the number of children being served.
In addition, the grants require the purchase of food which supports the nutritional needs of children.
“A couple of thousand dollars to a local pantry may not sound like much, but often the pantry can use that money to leverage greater purchasing power with federal food banks and other organizations with whom they work,” said Glenn Poshard.
“We wanted to get ahead of the curve because it looks like this virus may be long lasting.
“Federal and state legislation is already emphasizing food security for children who, due to school closings, are home and are not having regular meals through the schools.”
Jo Poshard said, “I want the Foundation’s support to act as seed money in the hope that other business, labor, and community groups will support their local food pantries and help out in case this crisis gets much worse.
“If necessary, our foundation will distribute another round of grants in the near future depending on how severe the need grows, but we’re hoping many others will chip in.”
Area food pantries receiving grants from the Poshard Foundation include:
Ava-Trico Area Food Pantry
Benton-West City Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry
Bethel Temple Evangelistic Ministries Food Pantry (Mounds)
Carterville United Pantry
Christian Community Compassion Center, Inc. (Harrisburg)
City of Hurst Emergency Food Bank
COPE - Christian Outreach Program Emergency (Metropolis)
Daystar Community Program (Cairo)
Du Quoin Food Pantry
Gallatin County Food Pantry (Shawneetown)
Good Samaritan Ministries Food Pantry (Carbondale)
Goreville Ministerial Alliance
Grand Tower Township Food Pantry
Greater Galatia Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry
Harvest Deliverance Center Lamb’s Providence Food Pantry (Harrisburg)
Herrin Community Food Pantry
Herrin House of Hope
Marion Ministerial Alliance
Ministry for the Broken Hearted Food Pantry (Christopher)
Mt. Vernon Rescue Mission
Murphysboro Food Pantry
Shawnee Development Council Inc. (Karnak)
The Promise (Marion)
The Roads Church Pantry (Norris City)
Thompsonville Community of Christ Food Pantry
Turning Point Church Hands of Hope Food Pantry (McLeansboro)
Victory Dream Center (Carbondale)
Vienna First Baptist Church Food Pantry