LANSING, Ill. (May 24, 2020) – “We Win Foundation is proud to serve our local communities,” reads the flyer included in each box of groceries. On Saturday, May 23, the We Win Foundation spent a warm afternoon serving residents of Lansing.Volunteers had personally hand-packed 250 boxes of grocery items, and that number fit perfectly into this truck for delivery to Lansing. By 12:30pm about half of the boxes had been unloaded and stacked on tables for easy distribution. The giveaway officially started at noon, but cars that arrived early were able to receive a box right away. (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)The core team who organized the event includes, from left: Cathy Hallow, Farrah Ali, Andrew Holmes, Gina Diaz, Lori Palmer, Jocelyn Diaz, Pablo Sarmiento, and Rose Shams. (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)Lansing Public Works had set up pylons to guide traffic into the parking lot, over to the table of boxes, and out onto Grant Street. Village Trustees were stationed to provide instructions, and keep the line moving. (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)Trustee Maureen Grady-Perovich took the opportunity to remind people to take the 2020 Census. (Visit 2020census.gov to make sure your household is counted.) (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)Trustee Brian Hardy explained to drivers that they would not even have to leave their vehicles. The volunteers created a contact-less process, placing a box in each person’s trunk or back seat. (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)Volunteer Bob Hallow loads a box of groceries into a resident’s trunk. (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)From left: Armed with census information and boxes of groceries, Mayor Patty Eidam, volunteer Fernando Eumana Vargas, and Village Clerk Vivian Payne await the next vehicle. (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)The event was scheduled to last until 3:00pm, but by 2:30 no more vehicles were lined up, so volunteers took a break in the shade of the truck. (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)At 3:00pm, Trustees Brian Hardy and Maureen Grady-Perovich helped deliver the remaining boxes to the Lansing Food Pantry (2990 Ridge Road). (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)The Lansing food distribution event was the first of many that We Win Foundation hopes to organize in various villages. Farrah Ali (center) and Andrew Holmes (right) were interested to learn from Food Pantry Director Karen Adams about the donation processes she and the pantry volunteers have in place. (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)
For more information about the We Win Foundation, their connection to Lansing, and Saturday’s food giveaway, read “Gratitude leads to giving back” (May 18 article).
We Win (Women Entrepreneurs, Women’s Investor Network) focuses on savvy real estate investing. To learn more about the foundation, visit their Facebook page: facebook.com/wewinfoundation1.
Melanie Jongsma grew up in Lansing, Illinois, and believes The Lansing Journal has an important role to play in building community through trustworthy information.
