Carlinville Catholic Charities dedicate new food truck
Pictured from left during the dedication is Madison Gilbert, Jessie Gordon, John Kelly, Micah Stearns, Deacon Sean Caveny, Father Tom Hagstrom, Myrna McKee, Louann Baines, Pete Sansone, Tony Szczuka, Rosemary Hughes and Dale Hughes. Enquirer~Democrat photo by Ruth Gill.
By RUTH GILL
Enquirer Democrat Reporter
Several communities around three different counties receive food from the Carlinville Catholic Charities. The group would use a refrigerated box truck to deliver food to these different areas that need assistance. Just recently, last December, the engine on their previous box truck died. They have been boring smaller trucks until they were able to get their new truck which they just recently received. The Carlinville Catholic Charities dedicated their new food truck on May 16.
Deacon Sean Caveny, the area director, led the blessing by first reading prayers and then blessed the entire truck and the ones in attendance with Holy Water. Father Thomas Hagstrom was also in attendance and he gave his blessing to the truck and the volunteers. Father Tom is a Priest from both Mt. Olive and Staunton Catholic Parishes.
Several volunteers and friends from Staunton, Carlinville, Benld and Litchfield were present for the dedication.
The new refrigerated box truck is a 2024 Ford F450 truck that is 16-foot long. Victory Lane in Litchfield was able to find a chassis to add to the truck.
The refrigerated box, which contains a lift gate with a hydraulic platform, was salvaged from their previous truck.
Caveny became the current Area Director in October 2024. The previous Director was John Kelly.
The Carlinville Catholic Charities serve several different counties that include Macoupin, Montgomery and Greene. The organization will use the refrigerated box truck to deliver food to small towns that do not have access to a food pantry. For the residents who sign up for the service, they will receive a bag full of grocery items, a gallon of milk and some meat that includes either beef, pork or chicken. The Catholic Charities will also set up a table with extra food that the residents are welcome to take from. The amount of food each person receives is valued around $40 and should hopefully last them for two to three weeks. Once a month, volunteers will come to the Catholic Charities on a Thursday and bag up food and start loading the truck. Then on Friday, the meat and milk are loaded and then the group head out to different areas that include Kane and Eldred in Greene County; Irving in Montgomery County; and Hettick, Royal Lakes and Wilsonville in Macoupin County. The truck service will visit each area once every three months.
This food delivery has been happening for 11 years with increasing number of people receiving food. The group even delivered food during the COVID pandemic. The Catholic Charities purchase their meat, milk and other items from Mayhem’s Grocery in Greenville. The group also travels to Peoria to the Midwest Food Bank to pick up the majority of the food which they receive free of charge.
Whoever receives the food does not have to pay for it. The Catholic Charities will use money they receive from donations, fundraisers and grants to purchase food and anything else they may need. On average, the group will provide 45-65 bags per town.
The group of the Catholic Charities feel it is their duty by the Ministry to provide food, comfort and aid to those who are in need. The Carlinville Catholic Charities is constantly accepting donations to help with funds for the truck, their main building and the food they donate to others. They are always looking for volunteers to assist with a variety of projects such as bagging up the food and assist in the food delivery. One may contact the Catholic Charities at 217-854-4511.
