Contact: Mari Barnes, Supervisor (847) 432-3240
For Immediate Release week of November 19, 2006
Moraine Township Food Pantry services were in full operation on
Saturday, November 18, as donated Thanksgiving baskets were distributed
by volunteers to economically disadvantaged local residents.
Supervisor Mari Barnes, Trustees Margoth Moreno, Cynthia Plouché
and Bryna Gamson, Township staff and a host of other volunteers picked
up, sorted, and distributed specialized boxes of Thanksgiving
foodstuffs to area residents notified to come to the Township office.
"Thanks to the Willow Creek Church Northshore from Barrington, we were
able to supply over 100 families with thoughtfully contributed hams and
assorted trimmings to help our needier residents enjoy the Thanksgiving
holiday," Barnes said.
Special kudos to the Township's Director of General Assistance, Tracy
Coleman and staffer Annie Wlezien, who put in extra hours on Saturday,
as volunteers. For the Supervisor, it was a family affair:
son Will Barnes, a Highland Park High School junior who has helped on
many such occasions, was again on hand for the heavy lifting.
In addition, on that Saturday, a group of students from HPHS also
helped to unpack and shelve contributed canned goods sent to the Food
Pantry through the efforts of the Elm Place School community.
During December, the Township will be assembling holiday food baskets
from School District 112's food drive, and also distributing toys for
local children from donations made by the City of Highland Park's
employees' annual holiday party.
"It takes a lot of elves to get everything ready for the holidays,"
Barnes commented. "We have several local Brownie troops that supply us
with holiday food baskets every year as well."
According to its mission statement, Moraine Township government
administers public funds to provide responsive, efficient and
compassionate services and support for residents in need.
"Working together, we can see to it that at holiday time--and all the
time--the Township ensures that no one goes hungry in this
region," concludes Supervisor Barnes.
For assistance, or to volunteer, contact Moraine Township at (847)
432-3240 or go to www.morainetownship.org for more information.
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Posted November 30, 2006