Heart of Illinois Harvest volunteers are still on the case. With grocery stores still operating during the coronavirus outbreak, volunteers for the food rescue program that started in Peoria in 1992 continue making the rounds of supermarkets and restaurants to pick up baked goods and produce for transport to area food pantries. During normal times, the all-volunteer effort would transport as much as seven tons of food a week, said program coordinator Tina Johnson. "We're still running. We've had several volunteers that aren't going out due to the flu. We're operating with a skeleton crew right now," she said. "Some days it's very slow; other times we get a full truck and could go back for more," said Johnson. "We don't have a warehouse so everything has to be transported. Some agencies have closed (food pantries). We serve those that are open," she said. HOI Harvest board chairman Bill Lervaag is aware of the contribution volunteers are making right now--and the need for caution. "If we get more (flu) cases in our area, we may have to halt our work," he said. Lervaag, a retired financial planner, went out with volunteers last week as they made the rounds. "I put cleaner on the trucks and the volunteers wear gloves. The older volunteers are staying close to home but we have a number still working," he said. Hungry people still need the service, said Lervaag. "The pantries are still handing out food through the windows," he said. Johnson said she was concerned about Harvest's older volunteers. "We don't want to put anyone in danger," she said. Younger volunteers--even on a short-term basis--would be welcome right now, said Johnson. For more information, call HOI Harvest at (309) 693-0876.
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