Naperville Jaycees Help Feed Hungry in DuPage County, Donate $5,000 and 12,500 lbs of Food

Naperville, Illinois—The Naperville Jaycees are thankful for the community’s support that allowed them to donate $5,000 and more than 12,500 pounds of food to feed the hungry through Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry in Naperville, Ill. The Jaycees donated the food over the 2012 holiday season and presented Loaves & Fishes with the check at their General Membership meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013.

“The Jaycees are always passionate about helping those in need in our community,” said Kevin Piket, Naperville Jaycees president. “This project allowed us to give back to Naperville and build leaders through community service, which is core to our mission.”    

The Naperville Jaycees have a long history of helping feed the hungry by working in cooperation with food banks in the DuPage County area. In 2012, the Jaycees spent more than 115 volunteer hours collecting food and monetary donations for both the Thanksgiving and Holiday Food Basket programs through Loaves & Fishes; they also helped distribute more than 150 baskets to families in need. Efforts to help feed the hungry included several fundraisers, such as a holiday raffle, an online auction for a VIP Last Fling Dinner and food drives at Casey’s Foods in Naperville as well as fundraising at Naperville Jaycees general membership meetings.

“Loaves & Fishes has enjoyed a vibrant partnership with the Naperville Jaycees for many years,” Charles McLimans, Loaves and Fishes executive director and CEO, said. “We share the values of leadership and service that transform lives. We are grateful for their generosity and dedication to our mission in ending hunger.”

The Naperville Jaycees are always looking for new members who would like to make a difference in their community. General membership meetings are open to interested individuals and are held at 7:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the Judd Kendall VFW at 908 West Jackson Ave. in Naperville, Ill. More information may be found on the Jaycees’ website at www.naperjaycees.org.