Fideliter Club of Elgin feeds kids, supports local nonprofits

Posted April 21, 2020 6:00 am

Submitted by Pat Szpekowski

Fideliter Club of Elgin raises funds to feed Fox Valley area children. Members regularly assist in food distribution at the Northern Illinois Food Bank. In addition, the club also supports the Boys and Girls Club of Elgin, Batavia Food Pantry, and Food for Greater Elgin. From left are members Jan McGrath, Patti Esposito, club president Judy Hanlon, and Linda O'Connor. Courtesy of Fideliter Club of Elgin

Fideliter Club of Elgin, Elgin's oldest philanthropic organization, which was founded in 1882, has immediately responded to an urgent plea from Mike Warren, board president, Food For Greater Elgin.

Kim Hopkins of Elgin helps sort and package food at the Northern Illinois Food Bank facility in Geneva along with other Fideliter Club members. Courtesy of Fideliter Club of Elgin

The club has provided the local nonprofit organization with an additional donation of $4,000, in which half of the recipients are children. As the COVID-19 crisis unfolds, the club's leadership is evaluating current needs of its other nonprofit partners.

"Food For Greater Elgin is one of the four designated not-for profits supported by our Fideliter Charities to fulfill our club's mission of feeding children in the greater Elgin area community," said Judy Hanlon, president, Fideliter Club of Elgin.

"Through proceeds obtained by supporters of our annual charity gala and generous sponsors, the Fideliter Club continues to make a substantial impact on feeding children in the greater Fox Valley area."

The annual Fideliter Charities Gala has been the major philanthropic fundraising effort of the club. This year's annual gala is scheduled for Aug. 29 at the Eagle Brook Country Club in Geneva, dependent upon the status of the COVID-19 crisis.

Fideliter Club members are shown volunteering last year at the Northern Illinois Food Bank Mobile Pantry at the Greater Elgin Care Center on Summit Street in Elgin. The club's annual charity gala, along with sponsorships from generous donors, assist in fulfilling the need of feeding children. From left are Kay Loeloff, Jan McGrath, Linda O'Connor, Patti Esposito, Lisa Basham, Colleen Colligan, club President Judy Hanlon, and Bonnie Henn-Pritchard. Courtesy of Fideliter Club of Elgin

Through generous donations in 2019, the Fideliter Club was able to partner with the Northern Illinois Food Bank, the Boys & Girls Club of Elgin, Food for Greater Elgin, and the Batavia Food Pantry to provide meals, milk and food backpacks to hungry children.

Supportive projects to help feed children include funding for:

• Project Produce, which provides nutritious snacks to 150 Elgin Boys and Girls Club members each day during the school year and the summer session;

• Summer Breakfast Program for Boys and Girls members during the summer session;

• Milk2MyPlate program for Food for Greater Elgin, which provides 13,104 gallons of milk to families annually;

• Milk2MyPlate program for The Batavia Food Pantry, which provides 3,016 gallons of milk to families annually;

• Northern Illinois Food Bank Backpack Program for the St. Charles school district, which provides food for children over the weekend;

Children from the Boys and Girls Club of Elgin, ranging in age from 4-7, receive a monthly Birthday Pack full of surprises for their birthday. The kit includes a box cake mix and frosting, candles, balloons and other items to make their day special. Courtesy of Fideliter Club of Elgin

• Birthday Party in a Bag provided for Food for Greater Elgin children and Boys and Girls Club members, reaching 2,000 children.

The Fideliter Club 2020 officers are: Judy Hanlon, president; Kim Hively, Carri Laird, Kay Loeloff, Kim Hopkins, Colleen Colligan, Jan McGrath, Keli Nitschke, Betty Brown, Brenda Morrissy, Linda O' Connor, Debbie Hudgens, Faith Thomas and Bonnie Henn-Pritchard.

For information or to donate, visit fideliterclub.com, The Fideliter Club on Facebook, or contact Kay Loeloff at (847) 217-1137.

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