Old Stone Church food pantry receives support from community through food drive

By Marianne Mueller

REPORTER

Based on an idea brought to life by Hannah Mayton Montgomery Financial Services, LLC organized a food drive for the Old Stone Church Food Pantry in Rockton. Food drive volunteers collected over 6,000 lbs. of non-perishable donations from the Rockton community on Saturday, Aug. 29. The Pantry estimates the donations will assist in providing approximately 5,000 meals to families in our Stateline area.

Organizers extend a huge Thank you to all volunteers, including the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of Troops 619 AND 620. Special thanks to Beloit Woodman’s for donating paper bags, Balsley Printing for donating flyers and the Rockton community for their support in donations to the Pantry! Middleton Movers also helped out by collecting donations and for weighing all of the food that came in.

Montgomery Financial Services, LLC is planning on organizing the Rockton Community Food Drive as an annual event to benefit our local community. If you did not have the opportunity to participate in this year’s food drive and would like information about getting involved for yourself or your organization next year, please contact us at 815-957-0561.

Mayton has strong community ties and is a lifetime member of the Old Stone Church.

“Every year the pantry receives more donations during or around the holidays but the need is much greater in the spring which is when the event was originally set to happen. The food drive was moved up and the community showed up in overwhelming support,” Mayton said.

The Old Stone Church food pantry has been a staple in the Rockton community since opening its doors in 1994. Pantry Director, Donn VanSchelven started the pantry as a community outreach program. At that time the pantry was serving 11 families. Over the past 26 years the pantry has seen a significant increase in need. Due to current circumstances; especially with the affects from COVID-19 a total of 60-85 families are being served weekly. Those receiving help from the pantry are from the communities of Rockton, Roscoe, Shirland, Harrison South Beloit and Durand.

Before the pandemic hit food disbursement happened inside the church basement. After the church doors closed in March the parking lot has been used as a main pick up location. Volunteers deliver four bags full of basic items to feed children and their families to each car that pulls up. Thanks to the generosity of local business leaders other select items add extra options to choose from including DairyHaus ice cream. Volunteers can help carry these back to cars.

At the heart of all of the pantries action are volunteers who give back in various ways. “We have a total of 18 volunteers each week who work at the pantry,” VanSchelven said. “We have always had very hard working volunteers, and now have a couple of newer ones who will sometimes follow me in my car to pick up donations or might even meet someone at the church to accept donations. Most volunteers work on Thursdays.”

Those who visit are offered and given food with a gallon of milk, medical and health advice, in addition to Christmas and Thanksgiving baskets.

“We always have more families come through during Thanksgiving and Christmas because they become very worried about their family possibly not having a Thanksgiving dinner together, or about the children not receiving any Christmas presents,” said VanSchelven.

Job loss, divorce, debt, pay cuts, low incomes, illness, or domestic abuse are some of the reasons that make the need so great at the pantry. More specific examples include single Moms who are receiving no child support and who might be working minimum wage jobs cannot pay the bills.

Temporary workers who make minimum wage get no benefits; and are done in 90 days. Those who lived on a fixed income ;( disability, and other related struggles) have to stretch limited funds. “Many that the pantry serves are disabled and, or are temporary workers,” VanSchelven said. “Sometimes someone might be on the cusp of losing their apartment or might be unable to pay their electric bill. We work closely with the Roscoe and Rockton Townships to assist in applying for LIHEAP.”

Donations are always welcome and can be dropped off by contacting the pantry director to arrange someone to meet at the church or by placing items in two clean bins located outside. All food items must be unexpired to be accepted.

“I cannot say enough about this community; it is outstanding in its support of the pantry,” VanSchelven said. “Through the years various churches, organizations, business leaders, foundations, schools, businesses, and the entire community have shown strong support by donating non-perishable items, through financial giving, by volunteering or those who have lent a hand in supplying other needs such as toiletries. “We can guarantee that as long as we are here there will be food on your table.”