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Health & Fitness

Scouts, Sunset work to fill regional pantries

HIGHLAND PARK, Illinois – The phrase “neighborhood grocery” is more than a slogan for Sunset Foods; it sums up the chain’s decades-long commitment to being a good neighbor in Northeast Illinois, especially to those in need. Sunset proved its commitment to the community in an outstanding way this year by supporting the 23rd Scouting for Food drive.

During the first two weekends of March, Boy Scouts stationed at Sunset stores – which provided specially marked bags – collected more than 16,000 pounds of food for public pantries. Thaddeus Tazioli, vice president of marketing at Sunset Foods, estimates the donations – enough for about 13,000 meals – to be but a fraction of what more than 10,000 Scouts collected and delivered to pantries in northeast Illinois.

“It’s truly an amazing accomplishment which has a profound impact on the lives of families throughout our communities. As a new parent, I am always worrying about ensuring my child is properly nourished. It is hard to fathom what that must feel like for families in need,” said Tazioli.

Seth Elder, director of Scout Services for the Northeast Illinois Council of Boy Scouts, said, “Scouting for Food is the Northeast Illinois Council’s largest single, annual service project. We couldn’t do it without Sunset Foods’ continued partnership and support. Thank you to the communities of Northeast Illinois and Sunset Foods for helping the Boy Scouts feed the hungry again this year.”

Sunset’s efforts on behalf of the local food pantries have not gone unnoticed. Moraine Township Food Pantry published its appreciation in a Highland Park newspaper.

“Many thanks to the Northeast Illinois Council of Boy Scouts and Sunset Foods for the 100 bags of groceries delivered... on March 6.”

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The pantry, which serves the underprivileged in the Highland Park area, said the food will help offset the growing food insecurity in the region.

“Highland Park’s Sunset Foods has been a valuable partner, and has been generously donating produce and bakery items to our pantry.”

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Family Service, which offers counseling and other programs in the Highland Park region, also gave high marks to Sunset’s support of the food drive.

“Our many congrats to Sunset Foods and to Moraine Township for your wonderful partnership that is making these great resources available to our friends and neighbors in need! On behalf of Family Service, we are proud and fortunate to partner with all of you in the service of our community,” Executive Director Paul Dean said.

Sunset Foods and the Northern Illinois Food Bank have worked together on the food drive for the past 11 years. This year, they worked with Scouts from Antioch, Buffalo Grove, Fox Lake, Grayslake, Green Oaks, Gurnee, Island Lake, Kildeer, Lake Villa, Libertyville, Long Grove, Mundelein, Round Lake Beach, Round Lake Heights, Round Lake Park, Vernon Hills, and Wauconda.

Tazioli projected the drive collected a total of more than 200,000 pounds of food for at least 170,000 meals.

About Sunset Foods
Sunset Foods is a neighborhood supermarket dedicated to providing the finest customer service. We are small enough to get to know you and large enough to stock an outstanding selection of food, liquor, floral, and other items at competitive prices. Our friendly, competent staff work hard to make shopping at our stores a pleasurable experience. Family-owned since its founding by the four Cortesi brothers in 1937, Sunset Foods places a premium on giving back to the communities it serves.

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