Food pantry items collected

HSHS Home Care Illinois, along with Dan Hecht Chevrolet Toyota, Roy Schmidt Honda and Hope 4 Horses Sanctuary, recently teamed up to “Cram the Car” with non-perishable food items, hygiene products and monetary donations for Catholic Charities food pantry. 

Thanks to the generosity of the community, the combined drive effort collected 18,485 lbs. or over nine tons of food and hygiene products for Effingham Catholic Charities.

Valerie Engelbart, volunteer/bereavement supervisor for HSHS Home Care Illinois, explained how the drive achieved this amount. “According to feedingamerica.org, $1 equals 12 pounds of food (or 10 meals). Funds that were donated by Dan Hecht Chevrolet Toyota customers and staff totaled $1,429 so that is equivalent to 17,148 pounds of food,” she explained. “Added to the 1,337 pounds of products collected there and by HSHS St. Anthony’s colleagues and at Roy Schmidt and Hope 4 Horses, we were able to collect the equivalent of 18,485 pounds or over nine tons of food and hygiene products for Catholic Charities. Thank you to all those who gave to this annual drive – we truly appreciate the partnership which will help local people in need.”

This was the ninth year of the collection drive by HSHS Home Care Illinois. 

Photo Caption (top): HSHS Illinois Home Care recently teamed up with several local businesses and organizations to “Cram the Car” with non-perishable food items and hygiene products for Catholic Charities. Shown with some of the food donated and $1,429 raised are representatives from Dan Hecht Chevrolet Toyota and HSHS Home Care Illinois (left to right): Annie Wendt, Jerry Hecht, Danny Hecht, Kathleen Morgan, Lori Worman, Mary Travous, Bob Hecht, Jim Hecht, Valerie Engelbart, Anthony Hecht and Tammy Lakin.

Photo (top right): The recent food drive held by HSHS Home Care Illinois in partnership with local car dealers and organizations collected the equivalent of 18,485 pounds or over nine tons of food and hygiene products. Some of those items were collected at Roy Schmidt Honda, represented by (left to right) Jody Watts, Ashley Baumgarten, Twila Ruholl, Shannon Roberts, Ernie Walters, Doug Mette, Mark Schmidt and Roy Schmidt.

Photo Caption (bottom right): Joining with HSHS Home Care Illinois’ collection for Catholic Charities this year was the Hope 4 Horses Sanctuary nonprofit organization. Shown left to right are Kelsey Frost, APRN, HSHS Home Care/Hospice Illinois; and Donna Columbus, Hope 4 Horses.