Thank you to those that help with the Lord’s Cupboard of Jefferson County Christmas Box project

As the holiday season comes to a close, we are reminded that many members of our community face challenges that make it difficult to be filled with joy. Food insecurity continues to be one of those challenges. Multiple groups in the Fairfield area are providing opportunities to increase accessibility to meals even as the need seems to continue to increase. The Lord’s Cupboard of Jefferson County Christmas Box distribution project is a long-standing activity that was completed in December as one way to provide support for the growing number of our community members facing food insecurity. Approximately 450 households consisting of well over 1,000 people were provided food for the holidays through curbside delivery from the Cupboard. 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, church, organization and individual is critical to the project’s success. Thank you especially to the Greater Jefferson County Foundation for blessing the Lord’s Cupboard with a grant to specifically help support the Christmas Box Project.

Thank you to Jan Fontana and Ron Hunerdosse for their willingness to continue their role as team leaders throughout the four months of organization 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 significant support of the recipient mailing. Brooke Lilley, owner of Jet Stop, generously provided full size candy bars for each member of every household receiving a box. Ann Gookin, Myron Gookin, Joe Carr, and Joel Boatright provided muscle and stamina the entire week keeping the box packing process moving.

Melvin Diehl and Casey Diehl provided enclosed trailers for delivering boxes to the senior sites in our community. Mike Carr also kept the massive amounts of recycling material moving throughout the week. Ray Ham worked to keep the logistics of regular donations of product moving with as little interruption as possible to the Christmas distribution. Special thanks to all the teams that volunteered to work in the garage packing boxes of perishable products, those willing to load boxes into the vehicles of recipients, and those delivering to community senior citizen sites. It was only with the help of each of these generous and willing community members that this project could be implemented safely and conveniently.

As we move into the post-holiday winter months, I ask that you remember that challenges with food insecurity remain for so many in our community. Please keep in mind that there are many opportunities to lend your support whether it be financial or volunteering.

Thank you and blessings to each and every one of you! Until next year!

Vicki Carr, Chairperson and Lord’s Cupboard Board Member

Christmas Box Project Coordinator