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Tom Christell - Central Illinois Charities
Pastor Tom Christell, who served as the pastor at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Springfield, Illinois for twenty-nine years, discusses the history and the operation of Grace Food Pantry, which has been in operation in downtown Springfield since the late 1940s. The pantry is totally staffed by volunteers, with funding coming from donations, food drives, several other Lutheran congregations in Springfield, and other community groups. The food pantry currently serves up to 15,000 people annually.
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Abstract
Interview Session - Audio
Photos
Caption:
Sandy Barker, a 35+ year volunteer at Grace Food Pantry, checks a client in the computer. Clients may visit the food pantry once every thirty days. Jane Miller is in the back filling grocery bags.
Where:
Grace Food Pantry Springfield, Illinois
When:
February 2019
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Trucks, vans, and trailers pull alongside Grace Lutheran Church to offload groceries every Monday morning. A basement window is opened and food is slid down a ramp where it is inventoried.
Where:
Grace Food Pantry Springfield, Illinois
When:
February 2019
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Volunteers bag perishables. In addition to food, the grocery bags include hygiene kits with bar soap, toilet paper and laundry detergent. The laundry detergent is purchased in bulk and bagged by volunteers.
Where:
Grace Food Pantry Springfield, Illinois
When:
February 2019
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Cans of soup, vegetables, pasta sauce and fruit are separated for storage and bagging. The bags also include chips, cookies or another snack item.
Where:
Grace Food Pantry Springfield, Illinois
When:
February 2019
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
The food pantry board and volunteers make every effort to include fresh fruits when possible. The intent is to provide nutritious meals whenever possible.
Where:
Grace Food Pantry Springfield, Illinois
When:
February 2019
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Fresh carrots wait to be bagged. Local farmers and gardeners often provide produce during the growing season.
Where:
Grace Food Pantry Springfield, Illinois
When:
February 2019
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Bananas were the fresh fruit item at the time of the interview.
Where:
Grace Food Pantry Springfield, Illinois
When:
February 2019
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Flats and boxes of canned goods wait to be inventoried
Where:
Grace Food Pantry Springfield, Illinois
When:
February 2019
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Shelves hold bags of groceries waiting to be distributed. Bags include vegetables, soup, pasta and pasta sauce, red beans and rice, tuna casserole kit, Raman noodles, crackers, cereal, macaroni and cheese, and snacks and sometimes peanut butter.
Where:
Grace Food Pantry Springfield, Illinois
When:
February 2019
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Volunteer Norma McFarlan fills two of the three freezers with meat. When possible, food is purchased at a nominal fee from the Central Illinois Food Bank. Ruler Foods, Gordon Food Service and Hyvee are also food sources.
Where:
Grace Food Pantry Springfield, Illinois
When:
February 2019
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Director Doug McFarlan works beside several volunteers during the Monday morning deliveries.
Where:
Grace Food Pantry Springfield, Illinois
When:
February 2019
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
Pastor Tom Christell retired from Grace Lutheran Church in 2019 after serving the church and food pantry for twenty-nine years. With Pastor Tom are long-time pantry volunteers Holly Hansen and Jean Neptune.
Where:
Grace Food Pantry Springfield, Illinois
When:
February 2019
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption:
A formal portrait of Grace Lutheran Church minister, Pastor Tom Christell taken in the 2000s. His church, Grace Lutheran, hosted the Grace Food Pantry.
Where:
Grace Food Pantry Springfield, Illinois
When:
February 2019
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption:
Grace Lutheran Church is located in downtown Springfield, Illinois, across the street from the public library and adjacent to the Lincoln Home National Historic site.
Where:
Grace Food Pantry Springfield, Illinois
When:
February 2019
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.