The leadership at Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry & Community Garden would like to express gratitude, as well as concern, during this challenging time, and update the community on our strategic response to the threat of COVID-19 (coronavirus). The World Health Organization declared this type of coronavirus a pandemic last week.
First and foremost, each person is an important part of our community. Please keep yourself and family healthy, well-rested, and well-nourished in the weeks ahead. Community Immunity! That’s the goal each day. As part of our extended family, your health and well-being matters to all of us. We are all in this together!
Marie’s Pantry leaders and hardcore volunteers sprang into action upon learning the first confirmed case of COVID-19 was discovered in Kane County last week. Time tested skills from decades of emergency response training were put into practice, with guidance and support from the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
• We are not panicking.
• We are well prepared with plenty of resources.
• We have excellent precautionary procedures in place.
• We will continue to adapt as new challenges arise.
• We will stay open for service with regular weekly food sharing times.
Events like this test the very foundations of community networks. Our job is to help our most vulnerable community members, each and every day.
Our thoughts go out to friends and neighbors in the food service and entertainment industries, as well as school district service providers. Many are reeling with shock from the news that their places of employment and/or business partnerships have shut down, or remain open with very limited staff members in the weeks ahead.
Marie’s Pantry friends and family wants everyone to know, we see you, we are here for you, and there is enough food for everyone to share. We’ll all get through this, together.
New procedures are being fine- tuned, with preparation for the next three food sharing opportunities coming each Wednesday from noon to 2 p.m., Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m..
—Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry & Community Garden