Elk Grove Jewel deserves the credit

Over the 2017 holiday season there was a small blurb about the Elk Grove Village Fire Department delivering meals to District 59 schools.

Though the fire department did deliver food, we were just the delivery service. The true hero has been the outreach of the Jewel-Osco at Arlington Heights and Biesterfield roads in Elk Grove Village.

In 2016 the Jewel approached the fire department, asking who could benefit from a holiday meal. On short notice the fire department found 35 families that could use assistance. Each meal would feed up to eight people within the home. The meals provided a ham or meat, side dishes and dessert.

The partnership continued during the 2017 holiday season. The Elk Grove Village Fire Department delivered more than 70 meals - feeding more than 560 people - and was able to support all families in District 59 that are on the McKinney Vento program.

The past two years the Jewel Osco of Elk Grove Village - with donations from local patrons - have been able to assist low income, medically disabled, elderly, special needs homes, and those in need of some good cheer and support over the holiday season.

This past week Jewel Osco advised Elk Grove Village of more donations they were able to assist with. Jewel will supply meals for the local PADS shelter based at Christus Victor Lutheran Church.

The Elk Grove Village Jewel, and employee Alice Long, have provided more than 900 people with food over the past two years. Their continued community support has provided hope and nourishment for those hard on their luck.

Lt. David Hoppe

Elk Grove Fire Department