Pizza Philanthropy

Geo's Pizza sponsors mobile pantry, CYCM helps out

Approximately 180 area families took part June 12 in the mobile food pantry in Diamond, which Geo's Pizza sponsored. The Christian Youth Center of Morris provided additional volunteers.

With 8,385 pounds of food delivered, each household received approximately 57 pounds of food, including 10 pounds of frozen meat and a wide variety of other items, including lettuce, cucumbers, frozen pizza, cheese, barbecue sauce and bread.

"This was the second year in a row where pizzas have been part of the mobile pantry and Geo's Pizza was the sponsor," noted Denise Gaska, executive director of We Care of Grundy County, which coordinates the mobile pantry visits. "It's fun watching Larry and Sue Tarman of Geo's Pizza be able to give away free pizzas thanks to their generous donation."

"We have been blessed with a successful business for the past 27 years and the most enjoyable part of being in business is being to be able to give back to the surrounding communities that we serve," said Susan Tarman, owner of Geo's Pizza.

Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers will sponsor the next mobile food pantry, which will take
place Wednesday, July 11, at the Park St. Congregational Church, 806 Park St., Mazon. Registration will begin at approximately 3:45 p.m.

Any family that resides in Grundy County and is in need of assistance with food is welcome to come to these food distributions. Recipients are asked to provide proof of their residency, either with a valid drivers' license, state I.D. or utility bill with their current Grundy County address. Every person in line will be asked to show this proof, even if they have been to a mobile food pantry in the past.

Please note that this and all future mobile food pantries will be non-smoking events. Smoking will not be allowed anywhere on the premises.

Those interested in attending are encouraged to bring a container to carry the items they will receive; plastic laundry baskets and wheeled carts work well for this purpose. It is not necessary to let We Care know if you plan to attend the distributions, but if you have any questions, please feel free to call the We Care office at (815) 942-6389.

Upcoming mobile food pantry sponsors include First Christian Church, Mazon State Bank and Senator Sue Rezin.

We Care is a local nonprofit agency that provides emergency assistance to Grundy County residents in the form of food, rent, utility and prescription assistance. We Care is a United Way partner agency and is funded primarily by private donations.