Central Collision's Thanksgiving Food Drive Brings Over 5,000 Items To Local Food Pantry

Central Collision Center delivered 5,413 items to Alicia’s House Food Pantry Monday morning as a result of the company’s annual Thanksgiving food drive.

Mike & Nancy Caruso, owners of Central Collision Center, delivered 5,413 items to Alicia's House
Food Pantry with the help of Central Collision employees and Alicia's House volunteers.

The company asked employees, customers and business partners to donate non-perishable food items and unopened toiletries from Nov. 1 to Nov. 21. In those three weeks, the company collected 2,572 items. Central Collision provided a 100 percent match on all donations plus additional food items, bringing the donation total to 5,413 items.

“I’m so impressed that our team was able to nearly double our donation total from last year’s food drive,” said Mike Caruso, president and owner of Central Collision. “ That just shows you the type of people they are – caring and committed whether it’s at work or working to help others.”

Alicia’sHouse Food Pantry, a 501c3 non-profit, works to alleviate hunger by providing food at no cost to low income residents of Peotone, Monee, Beecher, Crete, Steger, University Park and South Chicago Heights. Located at 17 Paulsen Avenue in South Chicago Heights, Alicia’s House Food Pantry accepts food, clothing and toiletry donations year-round.

For more information, visit Central Collision Center’s blog at www.centralcollision.com.

Help Central Collision Collect 3,000 Items for Alicia's House Food Pantry

In an attempt to beat our 2012 donation total, Central Collision Center aims to collect 3,000 items from Nov. 1st  to Nov. 20th in our annual Thanksgiving food drive benefitting Alicia’s House Food Pantry.

Last year, Central Collision collected 1,365 donations from employees, customers and business partners. After the company’s 100% match, Central Collision donated 2,730 items to Alicia’s House. The company will provide a 100% match again this year.

Donations can be dropped off at Central Collision’s offices in Peotone, Mokena, Crete, New Lenox, Oak Forest and Tinley Park, Ill. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. In addition to non-perishable food items, the company is also requesting unopened toiletry donations.

Alicia’s House Food Pantry, a 501c3 non-profit, works to alleviate hunger by providing food at no cost to low income residents of Crete, Beecher, Steger, Monee, Peotone, University Park and South Chicago Heights. Located at 17 Paulsen Avenue in South Chicago Heights, Alicia’s House Food Pantry accepts food, clothing and toiletry donations year-round.

To learn more about how you can help Alicia's House, visit the food pantry's website at www.aliciashouse.org. For updates throughout the food drive, visit Central Collision's Facebook page.

Central Collision Center Re-Stocks Alicia's House

Alicia's House's newly remodeled space
showcases the organization's awards. 

We had the privilege of visiting Alicia's House Food Pantry Tuesday morning when we dropped off our Thanksgiving Food Drive donations. We were immediately greeted with a warm welcome from Juan and Stella Hernandez, co-founders of Alicia's House. While giving us a tour of their newly redesigned food pantry, we heard stories of struggles and triumphs of running a food pantry in South Chicago Heights.

Alicia's House Food Pantry is an organization close to

Central Collision's heart because it feeds the hungry in our local communities. Alicia's House works to alleviate hunger by providing food at no cost to low-income residents of Crete, Beecher, Steger, Monee, University Park, Grant Park and South Chicago Heights. They recently expanded their efforts to provide toiletries, laundry detergent and flu shots to residents in need.

Central Collision delivered 3 truck
loads of food as a result of its food drive.

Since Alicia's House beginning in 2001, Central Collision has been supporting the food pantry with our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. We reach out to past and current customers, employees, business partners and the local community to participate in the food drive by donating non-perishable food items. 

Exceeding our previous year's donations, we gathered 1,428 food items in our six offices. Central Collision matched all donations, bringing our grand total to 2,856 items donated.

“We have great people who are fortunate enough to give back and are happy to do so,” said Mike Caruso, owner of Central Collision. “Their generosity exceeds my expectations every year.”

Mike and Nancy Caruso, owners of Central Collision, present their food
donations to Alicia's House Food Pantry.

Located at 17 Paulsen Avenue in South Chicago Heights, Alicia’s House Food Pantry accepts food, clothing and toiletry donations year-round. The food pantry also collects winter coats, gloves, scarves and clothing. 

Consider donating to Alicia's House Food Pantry this holiday season. One small donation can make a local family's holiday complete.

Help Central Collision Feed The Hungry

     Every November, Central Collision hosts a Thanksgiving Food Drive to alleviate the hunger in our local communities during the holiday season. Our goal is to ensure no family in our communities has to go without food on Thanksgiving. We are committed to our communities and, as a successful small business, have a responsibility to give back. 

Hunger in Illinois remains a large issue. Based on 2011 research:

•     More than 1 in 5 children (22.2%) in Illinois face a constant struggle against hunger

•     More than 745,000 children in Illinois are at risk of hunger

•     More than 1.9 million people are considered food insecure, meaning they do not have regular access to nutritious food

•     38% of food insecure households exceed poverty guidelines

      Through the generous donations of our employees and customers, we collected 1209 food donations in our 2011 Thanksgiving Food Drive. Central Collision Center matched all donations, bringing 2418 food items to Alicia's House Food Pantry.

     We would like to exceed our 2011 Thanksgiving Food Drive donation total, but we need your help. Please bring non-perishable food items, such as soup and canned vegetables, to any of our 6 offices between Thursday, Nov. 1 and Tuesday, Nov. 20. Our offices are located in Peotone, Mokena, Crete, New Lenox, Oak Forest and Tinley Park. 

     All food donations will benefit Alicia's House, a 501c3 non-profit food pantry in South Chicago Heights. Alicia's House works to alleviate hunger and the problems associated with hunger in Crete, Beecher, Steger, Monee, Peotone, University Park and South Chicago Heights.

Central employees deliver our 2011 
donations to Alicia's House.

            Central Collision Center will match all food donations. We are happy to share our blessings with others and hope you will be able to share yours as well. 

      If you would like more information about our Thanksgiving Food Drive, please contact Marissa at marcaruso@centralcollision.com.

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No Kid Hungry Illinois (2012). www.nokidhungry.org
Hunger in Illinois (2012). Feeding Illinois. www.feedingillinois.org