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Drive-thru food pantry

400 meals distributed Monday in Lyons

By Steve Metsch

Lyons Village Clerk Irma Quintero, State Rep. Edgar Gonzalez, Jr. (D-21^st), the Rev. Kim Vasko and a host of volunteers braved Monday’s snow and bitter cold to help those in need.

They set up shop in the parking lot of St. John’s United Church of Christ, 4500 S. Prescott Ave., to distribute 400 meals.

In the first 20 minutes, about 20 vehicles had driven through the parking lot to pick up the meals, Quintero said.

“It’s like a pantry, a food pantry,” said Quintero, who was bundled up and wearing a face mask because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“We hope to help people out,” Quintero added.

Lyons Village Clerk Irma Quintero, shown here with Mayor Christopher Getty, helped put together a food pantry held in Monday’s snowstorm. File photo by Steve Metsch.

Gonzalez said he was approached by Meridian Health about the idea of offering meals to the needy.

“They have been doing some stuff around Illinois,” Gonzalez said. “They’ve done this this in Elgin, Waukegan, the Southwest Side of Chicago. They said they wanted to work with my office, and asked where we could do this.”

Gonzalez suggested Lyons, contacted Quintero and set the wheels in motion.

“The church offered the space,” Gonzalez said. “I didn’t know what the weather would be like, but this is what we are dealing with.”

Each container had enough food to feed two people, Quintero said.

Vasko was excited about the opportunity to host.

“When I was asked, I said, ‘yes, of course, we’d love to’,” Vasko said. “Actually, we’ve been looking for ways that we can reach out to do things for people in the community, especially during this time with social distancing and all the isolation.”

Food was distributed safely to each vehicle, handed through an open window with the minimum of time spent interacting because of the pandemic.

Motorists entered the parking lot from 45^th Street, picked up their food, then exited onto Prescott Avenue, also known as Route 66.

“It’s an easy drive-through,” Vasko said. “We’ve even applied with the state to be a resource to help distribute vaccines for COVID-19.”

“We’d also be willing to host being a site for COVID-19 testing if ever needed,” Vasko said. “We love doing events like this.”

Any food not distributed was to be delivered Monday evening to seniors in town, Quintero said.

“It’s nice for our town,” Quintero said. “There are people in need. It’s good to give back to the community.”

Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty appreciated the effort.

“It was a nice event that Clerk Quintero put on,” Getty said. “I’m very happy she, Rep. Gonzalez and the Village of Lyons volunteers were able to help the residents of Lyons.”

Desplaines Valley News

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Steve Metsch

Steve Metsch is an award winning veteran reporter who previously worked for the Daily Southtown Newspapers, Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. Metsch is a writer and editor at the Southwest News Newspaper group based in suburban Chicago, and a freelance writer a health magazine, the Suburban Life, the Naperville Sun, and other organizations.
Email Steve Metsch at sm4610@sbcglobal.net