Show your thanks; give to a pantry

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Thanksgiving is all about being grateful for blessings large and small. One blessing people take for granted is food. As many Sauk Valley families sit down Thursday to a bountiful meal, other local families may not have enough to eat. Food pantries have been busy providing food to those who are down on their luck. Pantries depend on donations, both monetary and nonperishable food, to continue their ministries. We encourage people to seek out a nearby food pantry, make a donation, and help in the important task of feeding the needy. It's a simple yet effective way to share your gratitude with others. Here is contact information for area food pantries: Lee County Dixon Community Food Pantry, 2001 W. Fourth St.; accepts food donations 8:30-10:30 a.m. Monday and Thursday; 815-288-4848. Make checks payable to Community Food Pantry, First United Methodist Church, 202 S. Peoria Ave., Dixon, IL 61021. St. Patrick Church, 32 N. Jones Ave., Amboy. Make checks payable to St. Patrick Church, 32 N. Jones Ave., Amboy, IL 61310, or drop off donations at the church office. Whiteside County FISH Emergency Pantry, 902 E. Fifth St., Sterling. Open 9-11 a.m. Monday through Friday; 815-626-1734. Drop off donations at annex to First United Methodist Church. Make checks payable to FISH, 610 Seventh Ave., Sterling, IL 61081, or drop them off at pantry. Helping Hands, 1208 E. Fourth St., Sterling. Open 9-11 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday; 815-625-0864. Make checks payable to Helping Hands or First Church of the Nazarene, 411 13th Ave., Sterling, IL 61081. St. Vincent de Paul Society, 7 W. Sixth St., Sterling. Open 1-3 p.m. Monday through Friday; 815-625-0311. Make checks payable to St. Vincent de Paul Society, c/o St. Mary's Parish, 600 Ave. B, Sterling, IL 61081. Trinity United Methodist Church, 205 E. 10th St., Sterling. Open 8:30-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; 815-626-7777. Make checks payable to Trinity Food Pantry, 205 E. 10th St., Sterling, IL 61081. Sterling Township, 108 Fourth Ave. Open 9-11 a.m. Monday through Friday; 815-625-3990. Donations can be dropped off 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Make checks payable to Sterling Township, with food pantry in the memo line. Rock River Christian Center, 1800 Prophet Road, Rock Falls. Open 1-3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; 815-625-4371. It also has a baby pantry with diapers. Nonperishable and frozen food is accepted 9 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and 9 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m. Friday. Make checks payable to Rock River Christian Center, with food pantry or baby pantry in the memo line. American Legion Food Pantry, 215 Washington St., Prophetstown. Open 9-11 a.m. Tuesdays; 815-537-2758. Make checks payable to Prophetstown-Lyndon Food Pantry, c/o First Lutheran Church, 300 W. Third St., Prophetstown, IL 61277. Items can be donated when the pantry is open. Tampico Food Pantry, 106 W. Main St. Open 5-5:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month; 815-438-4304. Donations can be dropped off when the pantry is open, or call anytime for a pickup. Make checks payable to Tampico Area Food Pantry, P.O. Box 626, Tampico, IL 61283, or drop them off at Central Bank. Ogle County Polo Food Pantry, 107 W. Mason St. Open Tuesday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon. Food can be dropped off then, or call Avis Ehmen at 815-946-2057. Make checks payable to Polo Lifeline, 107 W. Mason St., Polo, IL 61064. Loaves and Fish Food Pantry, Mount Morris Church of the Brethren, 409 W. Brayton Road, Mount Morris. Open the first and third Mondays from 2 to 4:30 p.m., and the second and fourth Thursdays from 4:30 to 7 p.m.; 815-732-3749. Donations can be dropped off during those hours, or any weekday from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the church. Make checks payable to Loaves and Fish, 409 W. Brayton Road, Mount Morris, IL 61054.