The Peoria Area Anti-Hunger Coalition launched its 40th Annual Canathon food drive on March 19 at local Kroger stores, collecting donations through the end of March with a goal of 50,000 pounds of food for 11 participating central Illinois food pantries.
Kroger opened the drive with $1,000 in non-perishable food donations and $1,500 in Kroger gift cards to give pantries flexibility to purchase items as needed.
Eric Halvorson, spokesman for Kroger Central Division, said demand for food assistance is rising across the division’s four-state footprint.
“All of the hunger relief partners in the four states of our division tell us demand for food is up and donations are down, so we’re honored to again work with the Canathon pantries as we have for so many years to address local hunger needs,” Halvorson said.
Drive organizer Marjorie Lafont said the region’s pantries are still struggling to recover from the strain of last year’s government shutdown, compounding an already difficult situation for families in the area. She noted that one in four children in the region experiences food insecurity at some point each month. Despite the need, Lafont said in-store shoppers have consistently shown up for the campaign.
“When we are in the Kroger supermarkets, people are so nice to us, and they want to know what they can do. They give generously and we truly appreciate that,” Lafont said.
Kroger Central Division operates food stores, pharmacies and fuel centers across Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Ohio.
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