The Rotary Club of Jacksonville recently assisted the Salvation Army of Jacksonville to purchase a double glass door freezer for its client choice food pantry.
Capt. Chris Clarke of The Salvation Army in Jacksonville said, “The Salvation Army served 799 people in the month of February through the client choice food pantry. Through this service, families ‘shop’ for their food at the Salvation Army facility, which allows them to choose the foods they wish to prepare for their families rather than receiving a pre-selected assortment of food.”
The Rotary Club of Jacksonville secured a $2,117 grant from Rotary District 6460, which the Club supplemented with a $2,500 donation from the Jacksonville Rotary Club Foundation. The Salvation Army also contributed $313.35 toward the purchase of the 45 cubic-foot freezer.
Rotary Club of Jacksonville President Lisa Kluge said, “This project aligns with Rotary
International’s goal of saving mothers and children. This freezer will help the Salvation Army fight malnutrition in our community by safely storing food during the distribution process.”
Clarke said the organization has signed a purchase contract and the organization will be moving into a building on the former MacMurray College campus, at 621 E. Beecher St., later in 2023. The larger space will allow for the addition of new programs including an art center, a maker space, a recreation/teen center and new programs for children seniors and families.
Kluge said, “The Salvation Army is meeting critical needs in our community. As they move into the new facility, they expect to experience increased demand for services. This new freezer will help the organization to meet those community needs. We deeply appreciate the support of Rotary District 6460 for this important service project.”
Clark said the client choice food pantry is available Monday through Friday from 9-11:00 a.m. and 1-3:00 p.m. The food pantry does not require identification in order to receive food assistance. The food pantry is currently located at The Salvation Army’s facility at 331 West Douglas Street. Any questions about this service may be directed to The Salvation Army at 217.245.7124. There is also a YouTube video available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQvAP9oHoB0 which provides a virtual tour of the client choice food pantry.