Buffalo Grove, Wheeling Rotary Clubs kick off Thanksgiving Basket Program

The Buffalo Grove and Wheeling Rotary Clubs are continuing a decades-long tradition of donating hundreds of Thanksgiving baskets to local families in-need during the holidays.

"Our clubs have been supplying food for the Thanksgiving Basket Program for more than 30 years, benefiting the neediest families in our communities," said Denny Snyder, Buffalo Grove Rotary Club member, and the chairman of the program. "Besides collected food, we accept monetary donations and utilize funds raised from our clubs' yearly fundraisers to purchase food and grocery gift cards to provide a wonderful holiday meal for these families."

Snyder said gift cards are also provided in the baskets so recipients can purchase a meat for the holiday meal such as turkey, Cornish hens or hams. The baskets also include educational games that the children especially enjoy.

"The real benefit to our clubs is when distributing the food, either by delivery to the family's home, or when recipients come to the collection site, we witness how grateful these families are," Snyder said.

The clubs are currently accepting nonperishable food items to fill the baskets, including vegetable oil, rice, egg noodles, spaghetti sauce, macaroni and cheese, soup, SpaghettiOs, sugar, peanut butter and jelly, cereal, granola bars, microwave popcorn and canned meats, fruit and vegetables.

Donations are being accepted until Monday, Nov. 13, in Buffalo Grove at the Buffalo Grove Fitness Center, 601 Deerfield Parkway, and the Buffalo Grove Park District Alcott Center, 530 Bernard Drive.

Cash and gift cards are also being accepted to help recipients purchase meats for the holiday meals. These can be dropped off during normal business hours at Edward Jones, 791 S. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove.

Area businesses willing to display a food collection box for this effort are asked to contact Snyder at (847) 541-4949. All collected and purchased food will be distributed the week before Thanksgiving. The project provides roughly 200 baskets to families in need. Monetary donations can also be made through the Rotary of Buffalo Grove website at bgrotary.org.