Over 145 families participate in pop-up food market

The Coal City Food Pantry working in conjunction with the village of Coal City hosted a successful pop-up food market last weekend.
Free food boxes containing meat and dairy products, as well as produce were handed out to over 145 families on Saturday, June 6. The distribution took place in the north parking lot of Coal City High School.
Various organizations and volunteers supported the distribution.
Emergency management agency personnel from Coal City, Braidwood and Wilmington set up traffic patterns and directed traffic, with Coal City Police Department personnel assisting in both distributing the food and traffic control. Coal City High School staff members aided in distribution, provided a fork-lift to move pallets and allowed for storage of excess food in the high school coolers.
Members of Christian Life Assembly Church were on site to load boxes into recipient vehicles and assisted with event setup and takedown.
Volunteers from the Coal City Food Pantry aided in event organization and pantry officials had the task of obtaining the food which was provided by Northern Illinois Food Bank.
As for the village, Administrator Matt Fritz was instrumental in getting the various groups lined up to support the event.
Food pantry representatives report all groups involved were pleased with the success and have agreed to conduct another pop-up food market on Saturday, June 20. Once again, the event will take place at Coal City High School from 10 a.m. to noon.
Persons desiring additional information can contact the Coal City Food Pantry at 815-216-3288.