Volunteers from the Citizen Police Academy Alumni Association and Evanston Township High School helped members of the Evanston Police Department distribute holiday food baskets today to over 125 families.
Department employees, both sworn officers and civilian staff, have supported the annual charity event through personal cash donations for over 30 years.
Recipients were selected based on referrals from the department’s Social Services Bureau, from four senior citizen buildings — Ebenezer Primm Towers, Jacob Blake Manor, and the Housing Authority of Cook County Buildings at Perlman Apartments and Walchirk Apartments –and several other community organizations and agencies.
Top: Volunteers and police officers sort holiday food for distribution. Above: Volunteers gather around the police mobile command post that they filled with bags for distribution. (Photos by Mike Perlman.)
Businesses supporting the food basket program this year included Sam’s Club, ATK Foods, Becharas Wholesale Inc., Wholefoods, Inc., Highland Baking Company, Dominick’s Foods, and the Ferrera Pan Candy Company.
The food basket include ham, chicken, vegetables, sausage, fresh fruit, bread, applesauce, soups, cookies, and assorted candies. Additional food is also delivered to an area soup kitchen and food pantry.