Local food pantries benefit from shopping spree

Kane County Farm Bureau manager Steve Arnold blew the whistle and state Reps. Steve Andersson and Keith Wheeler sprinted to start their filling their decorated shopping carts to benefit two local food pantries. The 14th Kane County Farm Bureau's Food Checkout Challenge Shopping Spree was held at the Batavia Jewel, and the contestants had five minutes to fill their carts with as many nonperishables as they could. After time was called, Wheeler tallied $1,249.53 for the Elburn Food Pantry and Andersson's cart totaled $1,127.64 for the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry. Each were presented with the traveling trophies of the event and huge checks were made out to the respective food pantries.

“We feel the mission of the farm bureau and the mission of the food bank has some similarities,” Arnold said. “Farmers are all in the food business, and the food bank and local food pantries obviously have an interest in serving the hungry, and we think that that's an area where our organization's members can be a great assistance to the community.”

“It was fantastic to be here today. It's wonderful always to get a chance to help your neighbors,” said Wheeler, of Oswego, who represents the 50th District.

“It was a lot of fun,” added Andersson, of Geneva, who represents the 65th District. “Far more of an exertion than I really expected reaching down, grabbing everything. I was winded at the end of five minutes.

“Between Keith and I — we're a true partnership — we really raised a record number of dollars for the food pantries in northern Illinois and they're the winners.”