The Lord’s Cupboard thanks community for Christmas Box distribution

To the Editor:

As the holiday season continues, we are reminded that many members of our community face challenges that make it difficult to be filled with joy. One example of a challenge faced is food insecurity.

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 project that was completed this month 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 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. Larry Bentler generously provided full-size candy bars for each member of every household receiving a box. Ann Gookin, Joe Carr, Joel Boatright along with Dan Breen 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. The National Guard team provided an enclosed trailer and the manpower to get boxes delivered to the door of those living in senior sites.

Special thanks to Tom Kunkle and Linda Pettit, Bob and Mary Keller, Pat and Deb Doyle, Jim and Jinny Steinbeck, Kathy Henry and Sue Carr, David and Lisa Cohen, and Joe and Barbara McClarney for their help packing perishable product boxes. Thanks to Ray Ham, Tim Kuiken, Rick Thompson, Mick Flattery, Steve Johnston, Jim Flinspach and many others who provided packing, loading, and delivery support of 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, Chairperson and Cupboard Board Member

Christmas Box Project Coordinator

The Lord’s Cupboard of Jefferson County