Poshard Foundation awards grants to area food pantries

In anticipation of the coronavirus outbreak closing schools and putting pressure on area food pantries to provide emergency assistance to more needy children, the Poshard Foundation has distributed $50,000 in grants to 28 area pantries across 16 Southern Illinois counties.  

The grants range from $1,000 to $3,000 depending upon the number of children being served. 

In addition, the grants require the purchase of food which supports the nutritional needs of children.

“A couple of thousand dollars to a local pantry may not sound like much, but often the pantry can use that money to leverage greater purchasing power with federal food banks and other organizations with whom they work,” said Glenn Poshard.

“We wanted to get ahead of the curve because it looks like this virus may be long lasting. 

“Federal and state legislation is already emphasizing food security for children who, due to school closings, are home and are not having regular meals through the schools.” 

Jo Poshard said, “I want the Foundation’s support to act as seed money in the hope that other business, labor, and community groups will support their local food pantries and help out in case this crisis gets much worse. 

“If necessary, our foundation will distribute another round of grants in the near future depending on how severe the need grows, but we’re hoping many others will chip in.”

Area food pantries receiving grants from the Poshard Foundation include: 

Ava-Trico Area Food Pantry 

Benton-West City Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry 

Bethel Temple Evangelistic Ministries Food Pantry (Mounds)

Carterville United Pantry 

Christian Community Compassion Center, Inc. (Harrisburg)

City of Hurst Emergency Food Bank 

COPE - Christian Outreach Program Emergency (Metropolis)

Daystar Community Program (Cairo)

Du Quoin Food Pantry 

Gallatin County Food Pantry (Shawneetown)

Good Samaritan Ministries Food Pantry (Carbondale)

Goreville Ministerial Alliance 

Grand Tower Township Food Pantry

Greater Galatia Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry

Harvest Deliverance Center Lamb’s Providence Food Pantry (Harrisburg)

Herrin Community Food Pantry 

Herrin House of Hope 

Marion Ministerial Alliance

Ministry for the Broken Hearted Food Pantry (Christopher)

Mt. Vernon Rescue Mission 

Murphysboro Food Pantry

Shawnee Development Council Inc. (Karnak)

The Promise (Marion)

The Roads Church Pantry (Norris City)

Thompsonville Community of Christ Food Pantry 

Turning Point Church Hands of Hope Food Pantry (McLeansboro)

Victory Dream Center (Carbondale)

Vienna First Baptist Church Food Pantry