Midwest Food Bank hosts open house, preps for benefit concert

Posted on September 21, 2017
Midwest Food Bank’s new distribution center provides more space to load food and send disaster relief. (Photo courtesy Facebook/Midwest Food Bank)

By Patrick Baron

NORMAL – Midwest Food Bank held an open house Thursday at its new location.

The open house at the distribution center at 2031 Warehouse Road in Normal showcased the nearly 100,000 square feet warehouse, nearly quadruple the size of the previous distribution center. Recently, the center has been filling up to send supplies to assist those affected by the barrage of hurricanes of the past few weeks.

Midwest Food Bank is also preparing for a fundraising concert this weekend. The event will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday in Illinois State University’s Braden Auditorium.

Midwest Food Bank Director of Communications Phil Hodel explained Grammy winner Michael W. Smith will be playing.

“Fan the Flame is putting that concert on for Midwest Food Bank’s benefit,” said Hodel.

There will also be a Hurricane Relief Drive on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Coldwell Banker in Bloomington. Donations can be made to Coldwell Banker at 304 North Hershey Road during that time or online at ColdwellHomes.com/HurricaneRelief.

Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…