NW Illinois News

State Rep. Andrew Chesney (R-Freeport) encouraged his constituents to donate canned goods to people dealing with food insecurity.

"We will soon be gathering together to give thanks and share a Thanksgiving meal," Chesney said in a Facebook post on Sunday. "Yet, among us, there are neighbors who are facing hunger not just during the holidays, but every day. On Friday, I donated canned goods at the Cornerstone Credit Union food drive for the Freeport Area Church Cooperative for Families in Need. If you want to help, the cooperative is sponsoring several opportunities in our community during November's Hunger and Homeless Awareness Month."

The eighth annual Freeport Food Drive was held on Friday at Cornerstone Credit Union, according to WREX. Community members were encouraged to donate non-perishable food items, which were given to Freeport food pantries ahead of winter. The drive was started by WREX in 2014 when the Freeport Area Church Co-Op closed its doors after it ran out of food. WREX and the Freeport community then donated over a ton of food; the tradition has continued since.

The Freeport Area Church Cooperative is a not-for-profit organization focused on providing emergency food, clothing, and shelter to those in need in northwest Illinois, its Facebook page noted. The group strives to empower the people it serves. The co-op is open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The food pantry is open between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Andrew Chesney has served as representative for Illinois' 89th District since December 2018, according to the bio on his website. He served as an elected member of the Freeport City Council and is a former board member of the Regional Access Mobilization Project (RAMP), an organization that provides support services and advocacy for people with disabilities. He also served as a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters.