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1. Drive feeds the need
Community rallies around 8th annual event to the tune of 382,000 pounds

Herald & Review (Decatur, IL)
October 10, 2009
   
THERESA CHURCHILL
H&R Senior Writer

DECATUR - Robin Murray, community services supervisor for Catholic Charities, surveyed the midday sky Friday and sighed. "Just when it looks like it might clear up, another dark cloud rolls in," she said.

Fortunately, despite persistent drizzle and temperatures around 50, the same thing appeared to be happening with the donations Murray and others were receiving at the Airport Plaza Kroger store for the eighth annual WSOY Community Food Drive.

Just when volunteers came close to getting caught up weighing and loading the food, another round of donations would arrive.

"I get upset if I miss one meal," 17-year-old Brian Caldwell said as he and Ryan Musser, 15, delivered the second of two loads from the Lutheran School Association. "I can’t imagine not knowing where your next meal is coming from."

Perhaps because donors hoped the rain would stop, the big rush of contributions did not come until the last half of the day, but it was enough to generate about 382,000 pounds of food between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. for the Salvation Army and Catholic Charities.

That not only surpassed an ambitious, 350,000-pound goal set 50,000 pounds higher than last year’s target, it also wildly exceeded expectations of organizers, who saw only about 100,000 pounds come in before noon.

"Out here at 6 in the morning, I was sure traffic would stay away, and people would not be able to give as much as they did last year," said Brian Byers, vice president of community affairs for Neuhoff Media and host of the live radio broadcast during the drive. "But it’s turned out to be a grand slam and the best food drive ever."

By comparison, last year’s broadcast ran 45 minutes past the scheduled end to achieve 301,000 pounds.

Byers said cash donations from individuals and businesses made up about 40 percent of Friday’s total.

Business coordinator Karin Betzer-Grady, account executive and community relations coordinator for J.L. Hubbard Insurance & Bonds, said both new and established donors stepped up. "The business community really notched it up this year," she said.

Although many schools were not in session Friday because of parent-teacher conferences, they once again were leading donors to the food drive.

One of the most visible examples was the delivery at about 12:30 p.m. of 47,041 pounds of food by 44 seventh- and eighth-graders from Our Lady of Lourdes School. John House, whose 12-year-old son Sam is a seventh-grader there, provided a 42-foot truck trailer to do the job.

That was enough for the first-place prize money of $2,500. St. Patrick School came in second, with 40,756 pounds, winning $1,500.

St. Teresa High School took third place, with 20,113 pounds, and is in line to receive $1,000, while Mount Zion edged out Holy Family School for fourth place, with 15,782 pounds, to collect $750.

School coordinator Pete Vercellino, co-owner of Ticket-N-Trips, said Holy Family had 15,733 pounds to claim fifth place and $500.

Event sponsors provided the prize money so all the cash donations could go to the food pantries.

In addition to Neuhoff Media and Kroger, sponsors were Archer Daniels Midland Co., Decatur Back & Neck Center, First Christian Church, Herald & Review, J.L. Hubbard Insurance & Bonds, Jones & Thomas, Skeff Distributing, Ticket-N-Trips and WAND-TV.

Vercellino said other top schools were Warrensburg-Latham High School and Meridian and almost every school in Macon County was represented. Some food even came from districts outside its borders, including Atwood-Hammond, Central A&M and Cerro Gordo.

"The school kids did a really great job this year," Vercellino said. "Their numbers were phenomenal."

One of the first sizable donations Friday was 3,674 pounds of food from Baum, French and Franklin schools, delivered by a 16-foot truck at 11:30 a.m.
"A lot of the kids at our school are among the less fortunate themselves," said Baum social worker Debra Veon, "but the mentality at our school is no matter how little you have, there is always someone with a greater need."

Members of Eisenhower Elite Energy performed under a tent outside Kroger at noon, with Zach Smith’s drum set up inside the show choir’s trailer.

"This is our third year out here," said Smith, a 17-year-old senior. "We’re not going to let rain ruin a good experience like this. This shows we can have an impact on the community and not just the people who come to our shows."

Agency representatives said increased demand on their food pantries in the past year justified the higher goal.

Murray said pantry use at Catholic Charities is up 45 percent over a year ago, with a record 1,567 food bags distributed in August to 1,364 households containing 2,727 people. September numbers were almost as high, with 1,540 bags given to 1,350 households containing 2,647 people.

"Right now, we just struggle to keep our pantry shelves stocked," Murray said. "Donations just haven’t been coming in as well as they were. Many people just can’t afford to give as much or as often."

Maj. Bob Gauthier said the Salvation Army is providing food to 5,344 households, compared to 3,447 a year ago. "July, August and September are very slow months for donations," Gauthier said. "This food drive gives us that extra shot in the arm that we need."

tchurchill@herald-review.com 421-7978
Salvation Army volunteer Al Sheppard pushes a cart full of donated food to be weighed at the eighth annual WSOY community Food Drive at Kroger on U.S. 36.

Copyright, 2009, Herald & Review, Decatur, IL

2. Savvy shopping
Regular customers say the best deals can be found on
West Prairie Avenue

Herald & Review (Decatur, IL)
October 7, 2009

BOB FALLSTROM
H&R Community News Editor

DECATUR - At the top of Robin Murray’s wish list is a large sign on the east side of the building at 239 W. Prairie Ave. that would state: CATHOLIC CHARITIES RESALE STORE. Murray is the community services supervisor for Catholic Charities. "Visibility is our problem; people don’t know about us," she said.

"They don’t know that we have infant clothing to plus-size adult clothing; they don’t know that we have housewares, dishes, toys and games, books, furniture, doghouses, Christmas decorations, Halloween items. They don’t know about our bargains.  "You can get an entire outfit of clothing for $4.50. Name it, we’ve got it, and a lot of items are near-new, maybe new. Come in and find a treasure. Buy a fully decorated Christmas tree for $10 to $20."

Yvonne Carter knows. She’s the shop’s best customer. The other day, the Decatur woman purchased a purse, a boom box and several belts for less than $10. "I’m in here every day," she said. "The purse matches the shoes I bought here awhile back for $3."

Kathy McKey knows. "I lost a lot of weight, so I need different clothes," she said. "I buy them all here. There’s a wonderful selection. I’m here three or four times a week. I’d rather go here than to any other store."

Mary Byers and Leta Cotton know. They work at the nearby Decatur Club and shop Catholic Charities often. "Every chance I get," Byers said.

Store Manager Annette Lane emphasized the importance of the staff. "We couldn’t operate without our 30 volunteers," she said.

Essie Hicks, 86, is among the most faithful volunteers. She takes a bus, rain or shine, to the resale shop three times a week to hang up clothes. "I’ve been doing this for about 15 years," she said. She also works three days a week at the Decatur Memorial Hospital Thrift Store. "On Sunday, I rest," she said.

Volunteers are always needed. Shifts are from 9 a.m. to noon and from noon to 3 p.m. Donated items are accepted from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For those who can’t pay because the economy is on the downside, clothing is provided free of charge.

Also attuned to modern times, the resale shop has a "save your green while going green" campaign. Robin Murray explained: "Buying pre-owned fashions doesn’t only help your wallet. It helps save our planet crisis by reducing the need for more manufactured goods.  "In the U.S. during the past three years, the purchase of previously owned handbags versus buying new handbags has the same effect as planting 2 million trees. We have handbags $1 and up.

"New-to-you leather goods, shoes, coats reduce pollution from leather tanning operations.

"Buying vintage jewelry versus new keeps negative mining impact to a minimum and keeps you in style."

Also, the resale shop recycles unusable clothing and merchandise to reduce waste and the impact on landfills.

The resale shop has been in its present location since 2005.

bfallstrom@herald-review.com 421-7981
Copyright, 2009, Herald & Review, Decatur, IL

3. Med Assist Program Provides Affordable Access to Medications

Although many pharmaceutical companies have programs making their prescription medicines available at no charge (or at a discounted price) to people in need, each company has its own eligibility requirements and forms.

That's why the local office of Catholic Charities started the Med Assist program in 1999 -- to help cut through the red tape and make the pharmaceutical companies' patient assistance programs more accessible to area adults without health insurance.

The Med Assist Program Coordinator, Tamara Claussen, works with clients to determine if they are eligible for patient assistance. If a client qualifies, Tamara works with their physician to begin the enrollment process. Once approved, the first 90-day supply of medication is sent about 6-8 weeks after the initial appointment.

If you know someone who could benefit from this program, have them call the Med Assist office at 475-0270 to schedule an appointment. Tamara will tell them what information and docu­mentation to bring along so their eligibility can be determined. There is $15 non-refundable fee assessed at the time of enrollment. Medication applications are renewed every three months, and a $12 processing fee is charged when the client's medications are renewed. (This is a flat fee regardless of the num­ber of medications the client receives.)

The Med Assist Program does not offer cash assistance. Individuals who need to fill one-time or emergency prescriptions are referred to other community organizations that may have funding available for prescription financial assistance.

For more information about the Med Assist Program, call Tamara Claussen at 475-0270 or stop by her office in Room T-321, St. Mary's Hospital. Since March 2002, St. Mary's has provided an office for the Catholic Charities Med Assist Program. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

A presentation on the Med Assist Program can be held in your department. Just call Robin Murray, Catholic Charities Community Services Supervisor, at 428-3458, extension 235.