COLLINSVILLE, IL (Nov. 27, 2024) -- Through friendly competition and a desire to give back to our communities, Ameren Illinois employees held food drives all across the service territory to help local pantries stock up ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. This is the third straight year Ameren Illinois has participated, and this year, forty-three different locations in Central and Southern Illinois competed to gather the most food by weight.
Each location worked together to collect the items and select a local food pantry to receive them. "Helping the food pantries that serve individuals and families in the communities where we live and work means a lot to our co-workers," said Luke Wollin, Vice President of Electric Operations. "This program is special because it is 100% funded by our employees."
Over 16,000 pounds of food was collected and delivered prior to Thanksgiving, helping to provide for families in need. Five winners were selected across the state with the most amount raised: Fleet Services with 1,174 pounds, Pioneer Park Operating Center with 986 pounds, Champaign Operating Center with 936 pounds, Pittsfield Operating Center with 744 pounds, and Belleville Operating Center with 561 pounds.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 13.5% of American households were food-insecure in 2023. In Illinois, more than 1.5 million people suffer from food insecurity, with the young and elderly affected most. That's one in eight people throughout the state who don't know where their next meal might come from.
“We are very grateful to our neighbors at Ameren Illinois for their support year after year,” said Amanda Borden, Vice President of Development for the Eastern Illinois Foodbank—a recipient of this year’s food drive. “Our communities continue to suffer from food insecurity, and these timely donations help us meet the need.”
About Ameren Illinois
Ameren Illinois delivers energy to 1.2 million electric and more than 800,000 natural gas customers in downstate Illinois. Ameren Illinois' service territory covers more than 1,200 communities and 43,700 square miles. The company's mission is to power the quality of life. For more information, visit AmerenIllinois.com. Follow us on Twitter @AmerenIllinois and Facebook.