Great Lakes combines food drive with Fourth of July fest
It's hoped visitors will bring more than their appetites to Friday's Independence Day celebration at Great Lakes Naval Station near North Chicago.
Rick Pearce, who works in Great Lakes' Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department, said a food drive will coincide with the Fourth of July bash from noon to 10 p.m. The effort will benefit selected Lake County food pantries.
Pearce said fest-goers can bring nonperishable food items for a cause designed to help those less fortunate. He said many local food banks are stretched thin because of increased business from a sluggish economy.
Warren Township's food pantry is among those in Lake County experiencing an increase in clients. Township supervisor Suzanne Simpson said about 400 families are receiving canned and boxed foods, roughly 50 more than at this time last year.
"As the economy goes south, the food pantry use goes up," said Simpson, whose township includes Gurnee and unincorporated areas near Grayslake.
Simpson said Warren Township spent $198 to buy items for the food pantry at Gurnee's Sam's Club in 1997. This year, she said, the township expects to spend $20,000 with the Northern Illinois Food Bank in St. Charles.
At Great Lakes' Fourth of July event Friday, Pearce said, food donation boxes will be at a gazebo in the middle of the action on Ross Field. Drop-off boxes also will be available at Blue Jacket Memorial Chapel, which holds Catholic and Protestant services adjacent to Ross Field.
With a crowd of 15,000 to 20,000 projected for the event, Pearce said, it's a good opportunity to fill the boxes with nonperishable items. He said the need is real.
"People are (financially) scared to death," Pearce said. "You have to be, in this country right now."
Fireworks, a flyover of T-45 Navy aircraft and band headliner Night Ranger will be part of the Independence Day action at the base. Food, carnival rides and a field goal-kicking contest with a $20,000 top prize also will be in the mix.
Visitors must enter Great Lakes through Gate 3 on Sheridan Road south of Route 137. Officials said there will be vehicle and identification checks.