Over 300 bags of Holiday groceries being distributed to the residents of Saline County to help citizens out during the Holidays

HARRISBURG Ill. (KBSI) – Organizations in Illinois reaching out to those in need during the holiday season this year. 

Molina Health Care of Illinois is giving away a Christmas dinner to the community of Harrisburg. 

Over 16% of residents in Saline County are facing food insecurity and with the holidays here it can make it extra stressful. 

Molina Healthcare of Illinois has partnered with Senator of Illinois Dale Fowler, The Fowler Bonan Foundation, and Heavens Kitchen to give away up to 300 bags of Holiday groceries.

“They give out a hand for Christmas. If it wasn’t for them. I wouldn’t know what to do sometimes,” said Jaclyn Womack.

Jaclyn Womack grew up in Saline County. She has been coming to Heavens Kitchen every Tuesday with her family for dinner. She appreciated when they have Holiday gatherings like this because she says it can be challenging around the Holidays and every little bit helps. 

“They’re helpful you know, they’re here for us when we need them and when, when people are starving, they help us with everything. And they have showers. They have showers out here during the summertime for people. They’re just amazing. And they’re caring, you can go up to them and ask them anything. They’ll help if they can. I know they’ll give you anything. I mean they’re just so great, I am blessed to have them around this area,” said Womack.

Womack says she is blessed to be in a community where they allow everyone to stay warm and have their stomachs full for the Holidays. 

“Not a lot of places have this so we are very blessed to be able to have this,” said Womack.

Womack says she wants to be able to give her kids the best she can around the Holidays and the donations from the Fowler Foundation make that possible. 

“They help us out. They have all these presents over here for your kids. I mean, they have books, dvds. They have everything. They give us what we need to help our kids. If they don’t have it they’ll help us,” said Womack.

The spirit of Christmas was indeed in the air as people at Heaven’s Kitchen were eager to share how grateful they are for the meals and other items. 

Senator Dale Fowler is a part of the team behind the give away. He says he is beyond blessed to have so many helping hands when it comes to volunteering.

“Well, it takes, huge base of volunteers. We’re all volunteers, and we we serve every Tuesday night. But obviously, this is a special celebration, but it just means the world. And it means the world to those that come for a lot of the families that come here. This is an atmosphere that we create for them, where we greet them at the door, we sit them at the table. We serve them and socialize with them and just create an atmosphere that they may not normally receive,” said Fowler. 

Molina Healthcare Foundation hopes this gathering helps ease the burden for families in Saline County throughout the Holidays.