COLLINSVILLE IL, (May 14, 2021) – The heart of every food pantry is to alleviate hunger and bring hope to those in need. Thanks to the donation of a new energy efficient convertible refrigerator/freezer from Ameren Illinois, 26 food pantries across their service territory will be able to store perishable food items and feed more families.
Food pantries have seen an increase in the need for assistance since the beginning of the pandemic. With the rise in demand, came an increased need to store food safely to keep it fresh.
"We expressed the need for refrigeration to Ameren Illinois and through the EmPowered Pantries program, our need was answered," said Mary Jo Credi, Director, Illinois Valley Food Pantry in LaSalle. "We've seen many new faces who have never experienced food insecurity before, and with this new energy efficient freezer, we'll be able to empower them with hope."
The donations were made possible through Ameren Cares which connects Ameren Illinois with communities through charitable giving and volunteering. A key focus of the program is to partner with nonprofit organizations to improve the quality of life in Ameren Illinois’ service territory.
“At Ameren Illinois, we’re committed to empowering the communities we share by listening and giving back to the places we call home,” said Richard J. Mark, Chairman and President, Ameren Illinois. "After speaking with food pantries across our service territory, we saw an opportunity to help so they can continue to make a difference in the lives of those that live in our communities.”
The EmPowered Pantries program is part of a larger initiative to empower communities. Through support and investments like this, Ameren Illinois is living out its mission to power the quality of life. The overall commitment to its service territory is not just about powering homes and businesses, it is about empowering communities, youth, neighbors and the economy for a brighter future.
The ENERGY STAR® 17 cu. ft. upright convertible refrigerator/freezer will not only allow the pantries to serve more families in need, it will also help them save on energy costs. As part of the EmPowered Pantries Program, food pantries will receive a free smart thermostat and facility assessment to identify energy-efficient opportunities to help improve comfort, manage usage, and reduce costs.
Food pantry recipients include including Standing Stone & Carpenters Table Food Pantry in Charleston, The Bread Basket Food Pantry in Watseka, The Masters Hands in Olney, Hoopeston Multi Agency Service Center in Hoopeston, SAM Food Pantry in Tuscola, Community Care Center in Cottage Hills, Gethsemane Pantry in East St. Louis, Guardian Angel Food Pantry in Alton, Soup n Share in Madison, El Paso Food Pantry in El Paso, St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Peoria, Whiterose Fellowship Church in Bellevue, St. Benedicts Abbey in Bartonville, Pleasant Valley Food Pantry in Washington, East Peoria Food Pantry in East Peoria, Salvation Army in Bloomington, Whiteash Food Bank, God's House of Blessings in McClure, Feed My Sheep Ministries of Southern Illinois in Mount Vernon, The Table in Vienna, Faith Liberty Mission Church Food Pantry in DuQuoin, and Bethel Temple Evangelistic Ministries in Mounds.
About Ameren Illinois
Ameren Illinois delivers energy to 1.2 million electric and more than 800,000 natural gas customers throughout central and southern Illinois. Our service territory covers more than 1,200 communities and 43,700 square miles and our mission is to power the quality of life. For more information, visit AmerenIllinois.com. Follow us on Twitter @AmerenIllinois and Facebook.
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Media contact:
Kelly Hendrickson
khendrickson@ameren.com
618.407.4197