Heart of Illinois United Way

Organization name is excited to be working with the United Way to help our community through their Day of Caring Food Drive!

Our food drive will begin on date and I would greatly appreciate it if you would join me in donating any food and hygiene products that can used to aid people in our community. By helping people in our neighborhoods and in our everyday lives, we show others what it means to truly live united.

I am proud to announce that today is the kickoff of our food drive to help communities throughout central Illinois. The United Way Day of Caring Food Drive offers each one of us the opportunity to make a difference in someone's life.

Here is a list of much needed items to bring in:
• Canned Vegetables: Peas, Yams, Tomatoes, Corn, Green Beans, Mixed Vegetables, Carrots
• Canned Meats: Tuna, Salmon, Chicken, Roast Beef, Beef Stew, Ham
• Canned Meal Builders: Soups, Baked Beans, Pork and Beans, Ravioli, Spaghetti, Beef and Macaroni, Stews, Chili, Pasta Sauce, Chicken & Dumplings
• Boxed Dinners: Tuna Helper, Hamburger Helper, & Chicken Helper
• Mixes/Boxes: Macaroni and Cheese, Rice Side Dishes, Pasta Side Dishes, Cornbread and Muffin Mixes, Gelatin and Pudding Mixes, Cake Mixes & Frosting
• Bags/Boxes of: Rice, Pasta and Instant Potatoes
• Beans: Bags of Dried Beans or Cans of Beans
• Boxes of Cereal and Oatmeal
• Crackers
• Canned Fruits and Applesauce
• Peanut Butter and Jelly

Personal Care Products
• Laundry Soap
• Bars of Soap
• Dish Soap
• Shampoo and Conditioners
• Deodorants
• Toothpaste & Toothbrushes
• Toilet Paper

(Remind them of deadline and where to drop off items)

So far, we have raised amount of food items! If you haven’t brought in a donation yet, we have until date to collect items. Keep up the good work!

While you’re out grocery shopping for Labor Day weekend, remember to pick up some extra items for our Day of Caring Food Drive. Here are items that local food pantries need (include above list again):

Tomorrow is the last day to donate food for the food drive. Don’t forget to bring in your donations! Demand at area food pantries is up more than 30 percent! You’re help is needed more than ever!

Thank you so much for participating in the United Way Day of Caring Food Drive! Together, we collected more than amount food and personal care products. Your donation is part of a united effort to invest in our community’s health and well-being. Thank you for making a difference for so many!

The Heart of Illinois United Way would like thank you for agreeing to help make our 2011 Day of Caring Food Drive a big success! With your hard work and dedication in leading a team of volunteers, employers and community members united together to help over 35 food pantries in the Peoria area.

Over the last year and a half, there has been a 30% increase in requests for food, which means that the people visiting the food pantries are not only old clients, but new ones, too. The demand for food is up three to four times what it was in previous years. While the need for food is remaining consistent, donations are down and they are continuing to go down.

Once again, we at the Heart of Illinois United Way thank you for volunteering your time and talent to the Day of Caring Food Drive, by uniting together, just think of what we can accomplish!