Our next installment in our Instagram Story Takeover series takes place tomorrow, Monday, December 2nd, through a portion of Tuesday, December 3rd. Eastern Illinois Foodbank will be taking the controls to show us how things are moving along while they are hard at work for their Jump Into Action food repack for Giving Tuesday.
Follow us at @SmilePolitely on Instagram to follow along with this installment of our Story Takeover series. Check them out and give them a follow @e.i.foodbank on Instagram if you don’t already. Head over to our Instagram Highlight section to see our previous installments we’ve done in the past, which includes Polyvinyl Records, Krannert Art Museum, Erin Erdman of Page Roasting Company, and more.
Check out the press release about their Jump Into Action event:
EASTERN ILLINOIS FOODBANK TO HOST “JUMP INTO ACTION” FOOD REPACKS FEATURING FIRST RESPONDERS
URBANA, Il, — Eastern Illinois Foodbank (EIF) will be hosting two competitive “Jump into Action” food repackaging events featuring local first responders as part of Giving Tuesday, an international day of charitable giving. The events will take place on December 2, the evening before Giving Tuesday, from 7 – 9 p.m. and on December 3, Giving Tuesday morning, from 7 – 9 a.m. at EIF’s warehouse. “As we approach the holiday season we are reminded that so many of our neighbors struggle to put food on their table. More than 31,000 people face food insecurity in Champaign County alone. It’s time for our community to Jump Into Action!” said Jim Hires, President & CEO of Eastern Illinois Foodbank.
The goal of the events is to raise awareness of food insecurity in our local communities, demonstrate how our communities can work together as a team and generate support for EIF’s Fall into Giving campaign, a coordinated, month-long giving drive leading up to Giving Tuesday. Community members are encouraged to donate online at www.eifoodbank.org to support the cause.
Each event will feature shifts consisting of two teams competing to repackage the most meals. Each team will be comprised of volunteers and local emergency responders from Champaign County Sheriff’s Office, City of Champaign Fire Department, City of Urbana Fire Department, City of Champaign Police Department and Champaign County METCAD.
“I am honored that the Champaign Fire Department and members of our Union are involved in this ever-important cause,” said City of Champaign Fire Department Chief Gary Ludwig. “Our service to the community does not just consist of responding to emergencies on red trucks. It is in our firefighter’s creed to take care of others.”
“Having METCAD staff participate in the Eastern Illinois Foodbank Jump into Action event is a tremendous way for our staff to show support for our community and to continue to help others,” said METCAD Director Ralph Caldwell.
“By coming together through fun and friendly competition to produce thousands of meals, we send an important message that we are committed to the well-being of everyone who resides in eastern Illinois,” said Anthony Cobb, Champaign Chief of Police.
Area businesses are sponsoring a Jump into Action team including: Commerce Bancshares Foundation and Commerce Bank (Urbana Fire Department), Farm Credit Services (Champaign Fire Department), First Federal Savings Bank of Champaign-Urbana (Urbana Fire Department), Hickory Point Bank (Urbana Fire Department), IGW Architecture (Urbana Fire Department), Martin Hood, LLC (Urbana Police Department), Meyer Capel (Champaign County Sheriff) and Spiros Law, PC (City of Champaign Police Department).
In addition to the Jump into Action food repacks at Eastern Illinois Foodbank, first responders from the Danville Police Department and Danville Fire Department will be collecting donations at St Vincent de Paul Food Pantry and St. James Food Pantry in Danville on December 3 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. “Part of the mission of the Danville Police Department is to work with the community,” said Chris Yates, Danville Public Safety Director. “Our community needs food, so this is a great way for us to be involved.” Neuhoff Media radio stations WDNL D-102 and WRHK 94.9 K-rock will be broadcasting live from each site.
Photos provided by Eastern Illinois Foodbank
