Will County and the City of Joliet, in partnership with ShareFest Will County, will host a free food distribution Saturday to help with recovery from last week’s severe storms.
Mike Theodore, communications director for the Will County Executive’s office, said the offices of Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino Tarrant and Joliet Mayor Terry Darcy reached out to ShareFest this week to organize the event after residents reported extended power outages following the storms on July 14 and 15, forcing many to throw out food from their refrigerators and freezers.
The drive-thru event will be held from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Will County Courthouse, 302 N. Chicago St. in Joliet, and food will be delivered on a first-come, first-served basis.
“We invite anyone affected by last week’s severe weather to join us for this event, which aims to help residents restock their shelves,” Bertino Tarrant said. “We’re grateful for our partnership with the City of Joliet and ShareFest Will County for making this event possible.”
“Many residents are still recovering from the storm and need food assistance, so we’re pleased to have worked with county leaders and volunteers to make that happen.”
— Joliet Mayor Terry Darcy
Theodore said this is the third time the county has partnered with ShareFest in the last two years, and organizers are anticipating a strong turnout given past responses and tough circumstances.
“In 2023 we plan to distribute food to 938 families, and 534 families participated this May,” Theodore said, “and with the storms that have hit the entire county, I can only assume there will be a lot of people interested in this event.”
The exact amount of food provided is unclear, but Theodore noted that ShareFest said it has loaded up its new storage facility in New Lenox with non-perishable foods.
“It’s going to be more than usual,” he said.
In addition to the state partnership, Saturday’s free food event is also supported by the Northern Illinois Food Bank, Helping Hands and Will County Emergency Management Agency.
ExxonMobil is also donating 300 $15 gift cards to help residents stock up on pantry staples after the storm lost power, which will be distributed along with food on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Joliet is a city that is always filled with people wanting to help those in need,” Mayor Terry Darcy said in a statement announcing the event. “Many residents are still recovering from the storm and need food assistance. We are pleased to have worked with county leaders and volunteers to make this happen.”
No registration or pre-approval is required for this event, and participants are asked to enter the courthouse parking lot through the northeast entrance on Scott Street, where volunteers will line up vehicles and load food items.
Residents who have mobility issues or are unable to attend can ask other residents to pick up food in addition to their own supplies.
“We have a great location downtown,” Theodore said, “so it hasn’t been too difficult to coordinate. We’ve worked closely with the Mayor’s office to make sure Gary Chaney and ShareFest have all the resources and volunteers they need to be successful.”
For more information about the event, contact the Will County Executive’s Office or visit the ShareFest website for more information and to sign up as a volunteer for upcoming events.
