Elgin holds food drive for Martin Luther King Jr. celebration
As part of Elgin’s 28th annual Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration, the MLK Committee is hosting their second annual community-wide food drive. Food that is collected between now and Jan. 20 will be distributed to local food pantries to provide much needed food through the winter months, when the pantries frequently have severe shortages.
Food can be donated at all local Elgin and South Elgin Jewel Stores, Elgin Fresh Markets, Butera Food Stores and Walgreen Drug stores. In addition, food can be dropped off at local churches, which are also collecting food from members and residents or at city hall.
Joe Wars, MLK Committee member organizing the food drive, is hopeful that the community will rally behind the cause.
“We hope to see even bigger response than last year,” Wars said.
If you have questions or want to volunteer, contact Joe Wars at (847) 742-2228 or jwars@att.net.
Last year, more than 13,000 pounds of food was collected and distributed on Martin Luther King weekend by local volunteers, including area teens using Martin Luther King Day as a day of service to the community. This year’s goal is to collect eight tons of food. Teens this year will again be working on Monday morning, Jan. 21, sorting and distributing food. They also will participate in the Monday service and leadership conference at The Centre of Elgin. Any groups interested in participating should contact Dianha Ortega-Ehreth at dortega-ehreth@elgin.edu.
The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. weekend of events is sponsored by the Elgin Human Relations Commission along with the yearlong efforts of the Martin Luther King Jr. Planning Committee.
Members of the MLK Planning Committee include: co-chairs Shaan Jones and Rose Reinert, Danise Habun, Joe Wars, Janice Hare, Rene Neal, Algawan Dussard, Albert McCloud, Aloun Khotisene, and Dianha Ortega-Ehreth and Phillip Campbell.
For information on the events, visit cityofelgin.org/mlk or contact the City of Elgin at (847) 931-5667.