Buffalo Grove Rotary making Thanksgiving memorable for families in need

The Buffalo Grove Rotary is making a memorable Thanksgiving possible for dozens of families in need.

On Saturday, 150 families will be able to pick up food baskets packed by Rotary members with essentials canned beans, flour, beans, pasta, rice and sugar. They'll also receive a gift card to purchase meat and other perishable items.

It's part of an effort that began Tuesday when Rotarians loaded up a truck with about $10,000 in food donated by the Garden Fresh Market near Buffalo Grove and Dundee roads.

"We live in a great community, and I just wanted to say thanks to the community for always being there for us," said Golan Mor, president of Garden Fresh Market. "We want to give back, especially now. These are troubling times. It's just such a great honor to really be a part of this community."

On Wednesday, Rotarians got together and began packaging the items into baskets for the 150 previously selected recipients, who will pick them up Saturday. The families are recommended by local school districts.

"Normally, if there were no pandemic, we get together on the Saturday before Thanksgiving and drive these donations to different apartment buildings where these families live and deliver them," said Rotary President Melanie Santostefano. "But this year, we have had to pivot, due to social distancing."

It is a program that Rotary has kept going for more than 20 years, Santostefano said.

"This is something that's near and dear to our club. We're really helping local families to make sure that they have a nice Thanksgiving," she said. "This is our small way to take the burden off and the stress off of trying to provide that, in order to make sure that they are able to have a bit of a holiday."