Since 2013, Springfield Rotarians and their customers have purchased oranges for donation to the Central Illinois Foodbank as part of the annual Rotary Citrus Sale Fundraiser. Our club takes the lead in the fundraiser, and Bill Smith manages the citrus warehouse in the Underfanger Moving and Warehouse in Springfield. In 2024, the Rotary South and Rotary Sunrise Clubs again participated in the Citrus Sale and the donation of oranges to the Foodbank. This year, these three Rotary Clubs donated 162 40 lb. cartons containing about 22,000 oranges to the Foodbank.
The Central Illinois Foodbank picked up the three full palettes of oranges from our Citrus Warehouse on December 4 (lead image). Bill Smith, Bonnie Styles, and Kevin Johnson met the Foodbank staff and vehicles at the Warehouse. Because the palettes of oranges were too heavy to all be loaded into the Foodbank Truck, Kevin Johnson loaded two pallets into the truck (image above) and one into the van (lead image and images below). Special thanks are due to Karleen Wagoner, Food Acquisition Manager, and Wes Ridgeway, Program Manager, for the Foodbank for picking up the oranges the day after they arrived in Springfield and for figuring out how to fit them all into their vehicles! The abundance of oranges was a good problem to have.
The Foodbank will deliver the oranges to foodbanks who distribute them to those in need. Bill Smith has described the benefits of the program for the Rotary Clubs, the Foodbank, and those in need of food as a win-win situation. Rotarians and their customers buy the nutritious citrus to eat, gift, and donate to the Foodbank during the holiday season. The Foodbank delivers the oranges to other foodbanks, who distribute them to those in need. The gift keeps giving because the proceeds from the sale of citrus by Rotarians, including the oranges purchased for direct donation to the Foodbank, support Rotary Community Grans that help combat hunger, promote literacy, build peace, and meet other community needs.