From the reduction – and in some cases, the complete shutoff – of SNAP benefits to rising costs of as a result of import tariffs and fuel prices to the increase in utilities and other household costs, more families are seeking food-related assistance from The Good Food Pantry (GFP), a division of Western Illinois Regional Council (WRC) Kelly Shiraki, food pantry manager, said in June 2025 alone, the pantry served 309 households, or 851 people, compared to 283 households (754 people) in June 2024. And this number doesn't include the additional 1,179 people served through extra pantry days, emergency food boxes and special drive-through events, she pointed out. In July, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) drive-through was only a two-hour event that saw 118 households (328 people) come through. Angela Thomason, food pantry assistant manager, added that the pantry-related numbers come from just eight-hours/two days a week when the store is open.
'The number of new families we saw in June was up 30 percent,' Thomason shared. 'One of the questions we ask on our new customer form is if they receive SNAP benefits, and many people have shared they used to receive benefits, or now they only get $20.'
To meet the growing food insecurity that individuals and families in the region are facing, the pantry has added an emergency food box program to its lineup in which people can go to the front desk at WIRC Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.4 p.m., to request a box that's filled with such items as shelf-stable milk, pasta and sauce, canned fruits, vegetables and meat and other items.
'Hy-Vee is also very generous with donations of bread items and when we have a surplus after pantry days, we put it in the WIRC lobby and also share with the Salvation Army for their weekly food drives,' Shiraki noted.
As a USDA-funded/sponsored pantry, volunteers weigh the carts filled with food each week as shoppers 'check-out' and also weigh the donations that are brought in to showcase the true need of the program and the amount of food going out the door each week, Shiraki explained.
'In July we had over 6,000 pounds of food donated, which is more than what we typically receive in a month, thanks to Kunes' food drive,' she said. 'The three pallets of bagged food they provided allowed us to give every family we served an extra bag.'
Because of the community's generosity with donated items from such organizations as The Giving Gardens, Master Gardeners and Cortiva Agriscience, along with numerous individuals and service and church groups, as well the availability of getting items at a very low cost through Riverbend Food Bank in the Quad Cities (a USDA food bank), the Midwest Food Bank in Peoria, and Dorothy's Market in Mt. Sterling, through a DOT Foods grant, the pantry is able to keep its shelves fairly well-stocked. A sweet gift from the Wesley United Methodist Church's Vacation Bible School provides 'birthday bags' to shoppers with children under 18, which includes a cake mix, frosting, sprinkles, candles and a pan.
'It's kids helping kids,' Shiraki said with a smile. Plus, there are usually numerous surplus items, such as canned tomatoes, beans and raisins, that are unlimited to the shoppers. Those who use the food pantry can shop once a month, Shiraki said; however, the emergency food boxes can be picked up whenever there is a need, as well as any scheduled special drive-thru events. Other donated items that come in handy include any kind of rolling cart or bag as several of their regular customers do not have a vehicle and visit the pantry on foot or by bus. Clean and gently-used (or new) suitcases and rolling carts are accepted, as are backpacks on wheels and reusable shopping bags. The group shared that one gentleman with a disability was thrilled to get a rolling cart as previously he was limited to what items he could get on his shopping day.
While donated items are greatly needed and appreciated, what the GFP especially needs are continued financial contributions as this allows them to purchase more items at cost from those food banks and Dorothy's, Thompson stressed. Plus, according to Jamie Roth, WIRC community services and PR director, the more donations the pantry receives, the more the pantry can do to adjust and adapt to the needs of their shoppers.
'For every 30 cents that's donated, we can triple that through our various resources,' Roth noted. 'In addition, unrestricted donations can help us to purchase items such as freezers and other equipment and needs for the pantry to run smoothly and efficiently. This is truly a community-supported program and we are so thrilled with the donations and support we receive.'
WIRC CEO Stacy Nimmo shared that it's not just the food pantry that has seen an increased need, but there have been impacts throughout the organization and its programs. The applications for the government-sponsored Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) are up 20 percent at her organization, and the waiting list for the weatherization program exceeds two years in one of the counties that WIRC serves.
GFP Manager Kelly Shiraki, GFP Asst. Manager Angela Thomason and WIRC CEO Stacy Nimmo.
'More people are needing extra help,' Nimmo, who has touted the pantry and the growing need for services whereever she goes in the community, said.
Because the need is great, Nimmo mentioned that there is a new opportunity that will be announced next month that includes additional services for existing and new food pantry customers.
'It's unfortunate that we're seeing this increase in the need for our pantry services, but it's great that we are able to provide people what they need to feed themselves and their families,' the executive director added.
Volunteers Make the World (and the Pantry) Go Round While the pantry employs two people – Shiraki and Thomason– volunteers truly make the program happen, Shiraki noted. In June, volunteers – who help on shopping days, stocking shelves and unloading trucks – logged almost 300 hours.
'I want to give a shout-out to our volunteers, especially a special shout-out to Jeff Laurent who comes in every Monday and Wednesday to pull the stock and stock our shelves. This frees up on our volunteers to focus on our shoppers Tuesday and Thursday,' she said. 'The LDS elders also volunteer every week to weigh carts and load our customers' cars so our volunteers helping shoppers can continue to work in the store. And Jaime Webb of the Prairie Land Conservancy provides recipes for our shoppers to use what we have in stock. We couldn't do what we do without these and our many other dedicated helpers.'
To sign up to be a volunteer, visit the Good Food Pantry's Facebook page or call the office at (309) 837-2997, or email [email protected].
A Joyful Place
'This is a very joyful place, and the people that come in are usually so happy to be here and over the quality of the food they receive here,' Shiraki said. 'There's a camaraderie here not only between our volunteers and shoppers, but between the shoppers themselves. Our clients are tremendous people, and the connections we make are special.
'It's about neighbors helping neighbors,' she concluded. 'We show who we are by treating everyone with respect and dignity. When they walk in the door, we're going to make sure they're fed.'
