By Joe Ragusa
BLOOMINGTON – Ameren Illinois is donating $10,000 to the Western Avenue Community Center in Bloomington to help restock its food pantry.
WACC Executive Director Amy Cottone said the money will help the pantry stock food for specific diets.
“Maybe it’s gluten-free or for diabetics,” Cottone said. “Because a lot of times, we give out what we get and we aren’t always able to choose that.”
Cottone said the money will also help the community center purchase a refrigerator to store fresh produce.
Ameren Community Relations Coordinator Paulina Heinkel said the utility company is glad to help.
“We want to enhance and strengthen the communities that we serve,” Heinkel said. “As Ameren employees, we’re not just putting the lights on, but we live and work in these communities and we want to give back the community and want to be a part of it.”
Heinkel said Thursday’s check presentation was actually scheduled for last week, but the severe storm postponed it. It’s one of six donations Ameren Illinois is making to food banks around the state.
Joe Ragusa can be reached at joe.ragusa@cumulus.com.
