Letters to the editor

The tradition of the Lord’s Cupboard of Jefferson County Christmas Box distribution project was completed this month to provide a level of support for the growing number of our community members facing food insecurity during the holidays.

Approximately 500 households consisting of well over 1,000 people were provided food for the holidays through curbside delivery from the Cupboard. The recipients truly appreciate the ease of driving right up to the Cupboard door to receive their food boxes. The board of directors and executive director of the Lord’s Cupboard would like to extend our thanks to all those in our community that so willingly supported this project in some way that made this project possible.

This is truly a community effort and every single business, group, and individual is critical to the project’s success.

Thank you to Jan Fontana and Ron Hunerdosse for their willingness to be team leaders throughout the four months of organization that this project requires. The Hy-Vee team worked to acquire and move tons of food from the store to the Cupboard for staging on multiple early mornings. Justin Clements provided his skills and equipment for multiple days to move tons of food to the staging area. Libertyville Savings Bank is always quick to provide support of the recipient mailing. Hill Phoenix continued to provide inserts used with each food box.

Larry Bentler generously provided full size candy bars for each member of every household receiving a box. Ann Gookin, Joe Carr along with Joel Boatright provided muscle and stamina the entire week keeping the box packing process moving. Melvin Diehl and Rusty Muntz provided enclosed trailers for delivering boxes to the senior sites in our community. Rusty also kept the massive amounts of recycling material moving throughout the week.

The National Guard team provided the manpower to get boxes delivered to the door of those living in senior sites. Special thanks to Larry and Linda Pettit, Tom and Jeri Kunkle, Bob and Mary Keller, Pat and Deb Doyle, Mike and Sue Carr, David and Lisa Cohen, Ray Ham, and Jim Flinspach who provided packing, loading, and delivery support along with several others helping to load boxes.

Special thanks also to Susan Frey, Executive Director of the Lord’s Cupboard, who provided full support and promotion of implementation of the Christmas Box Project. It was only with the help of each of these generous and willing community members that this project could be implemented safely and conveniently.

The Christmas Box project would not be possible without the very kind and generous contributions from many churches, organizations, and individuals throughout the community.

Again, thank you and blessings to each and every one of you! Until next year!

Vicki Carr

Christmas Box Project Coordinator

The Lord’s Cupboard of Jefferson County