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The Heart of Illinois Harvest truck always seems to bring just what we need. On a recent delivery, they brought Sophia’s Kitchen an assorted box of goodies. It was filled with make-up, hand lotion, air fresheners and night lights. The patrons were very excited at this mini treasure box, and quickly almost everything was gone.
At the end of the day, an older man struggled with understanding our window volunteer. Exasperated, he admitted that his hearing aid was not working correctly. She patted his hand and smiled. Reaching into the almost empty box, she pulled out a variety of tiny batteries that lay in broken packages. Tears sprung to his eyes as he saw exactly the battery that he needed. Hearing restored, he thanked her over and over for this most recent blessing at Sophia’s Kitchen.
If you would like to volunteer your time, HOI Harvest is looking for volunteers to pick up from local grocery stores and deliver to area food panties and soup kitchens. Call (309) 693-0876 for details. |
Here at Sacred Heart Church in downtown Peoria we have a
Sandwich Program that daily feeds hundreds of street people and those with low
incomes, even whole families who come to our window. It operates six days a
week with over 60 volunteers.
We have to buy the paper products, the peanut butter and
jelly and most of the meat. We give the people two sanwiches, (peanut butter
and jelly and a meat), plus a drink and a sweet. We receive help, such as most
of our bread, from the local food harvest company, HOIH, or Heart of Illinois
Harvest.
Six days a week the Harvest truck with its volunteers
arrive. They carry in as many as eight trays of bread, cartons of deli products
from a local supermarket, bags and boxes of sweets daily from Panera and
Starbucks, such items as large cans of fruit, even soups from Apple Bakery and
who knows what else. It is most interesting on the days that they stop at the
company which does photos of food products. We have even gotten cases of meat
and cheese. One time it was boxes and boxes of frozen sliced ham!
As fast as the food comes in, it goes out.
It is wonderful that in the State of Illinois this food can
be recycled to those who need it. Heart of Illinois Harvest is invaluable to
our outreach!
God love ya!
Father Bert Heise, OFM
Sacred Heart Church
