The North Avenue Business Association will be assisting local families in need with its eighth annual food drive.
The group invites businesses along North Avenue, its partners and the community at large to participate by donating non-perishable food and packaged items by Dec. 11th.
Suggested items most needed include: soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper, diapers, baby food, rice, cereal, peanut butter, dried beans, canned tuna, canned vegetables and fruit, soups, boxed snacks, mac and cheese, tomato sauce and dried pasta.
Toiletry items cannot be purchased with food stamps.
“With the recent cuts in the federal food stamp program, it will be harder for families in need to get ordinary staples,” said NABA President Lee Owens. “The need is great this holiday season, and this is an opportunity for the business association to give back to the community.”
Donations can be dropped off at these local North Avenue businesses during regular business hours:
*Al-Mart Furniture & Bedding, 7045 W. North Avenue, Oak Park
*Charter One Bank, 6700 W. North Avenue, Chicago
*FirstMerit Bank, 1606 N. Harlem, Elmwood Park
*US Bank, 6011 W. North Avenue, Oak Park
*Walgreens, 1606 N. Mobile, Chicago.
Collected donated items will benefit two local food pantries: Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry, 848 Lake Street in Oak Park, and St. Cyprian’s Food Pantry, 6535 W. Irving Park Road.
Monetary donations made directly to the pantries also are welcome and tax deductible.
For more information, contact Lee Owens at 773-610-3800 or Wendy Tannenbaum at info.naba@yahoo.com.