The Gift Is
Food is a local program aimed at keeping a steady supply of food coming
in to the local food pantries and the Central Illinois Food Bank.
The program was started by Don Hickman and some volunteers from the Consumer Credit Counseling Service and Modern Mailing Systems in Springfield, Illinois.
The Springfield Chamber of Commerce has participated in the The Gift Is Food since its inception.
The program provides for employees who want to dress casually on Friday, to bring a can of food or a toiletry item in exchange for the privilege of dressing down on Friday. The food is collected each month or so, and turned over to one of the local pantries.
Each food pantry is listed on a piece of paper, all names are put into a jar, and each time a pantry's name is drawn, that name remains out of the jar until all pantries have received a donation. This assures equity in the program.
If every business firm or some of the large offices in government and public and private enterprise would participate there would probably not be any need for annual food drives. This would assure a constant flow of food all through the year.
For more information regarding The Gift Is Food program you may contact:
Don Hickman
217-546-6956
or email: donanchor@aol.com