Hundreds of volunteers are collecting food this Sunday in hopes of refilling central Illinois pantries for the summer season. This is the 31st year for the Peoria Area Anti-Hunger Coalition’s Foodshare Can-A-Thon. The coalition is asking area residents to fill bags provided by the Journal Star with non-perishable boxed and canned foods and place them outside their front door. Volunteers then go door to door to pick up donated items. Event co-chair Marjorie LaFont says the food drive is important following the holidays:
“Our pantries are hit really hard in January, February, march because people are paying utility bills and have extra winter expenses. So our pantries are pretty bare.”
Lafont says food drop boxes will also be in place at Kroger stores, Peoria Fire Stations, participating Subway restaurants and Curves through March 22nd. People can also purchase various dollar-amounts of pre-packaged food bags at Kroger for the annual program.