CARTERVILLE (JACL NEWS) – The Poshard Foundation has donated $1,250 to support the John A. Logan College Snack Locker, providing essential food and supplies to students experiencing food insecurity.
Dr. Glenn Poshard, former congressman, past president of Southern Illinois University, and current member of the John A. Logan College Board of Trustees, presented the check to Assistant Vice President for Advancement and Executive Director of the John A. Logan College Foundation, Staci Shafer, during the Board of Trustees’ March meeting. The donation follows the conclusion of Poshard’s Poetry for Pantries tour, which raised more than $125,000 for local food pantries across southern Illinois.
“An additional $14,000 has been donated recently, and we are distributing funds to the pantries that are in greatest need right now,” Poshard said. “We had good turnouts at most of the places where we had readings; those were places where the local pantries got the word out, and people came and responded generously.”
In recent years, the Poshard Foundation has distributed more than $500,000 to food pantries across southern Illinois, benefiting more than 40 communities. The Foundation is widely known for its longstanding work supporting abused, neglected, and abandoned children, as well as addressing hunger in underserved areas.
“None of that could have been done without the kindness and generosity of people who really care about their neighbors and the children who often go hungry in these food deserts,” Poshard said. “Jo and I count ourselves as very lucky to be able to partner with these people and their giving spirits.”
The John A. Logan College Snack Locker is available to students during campus hours and offers on-the-go breakfast items, microwavable meals, snacks, and drinks. The service is designed to ensure students have access to basic nutrition so they can focus on their academic success.
“We are grateful for the support that the Poshard Foundation has and continues to provide to the most vulnerable populations in southern Illinois,” Shafer said. “This donation will go toward purchasing supplies for the Snack Locker to help our students who are experiencing food insecurity.”
Poshard continues to offer poetry readings at churches, libraries, and other venues to raise funds for food pantries and those in need. For more information or to schedule an event, contact the Poshard Foundation at 618-985-2828, ext. 8564, or visit www.poshardfoundation.org.
