Continuing a 25-year tradition, members of the Evanston Police Department distributed holiday food baskets to about 200 Evanston families on a snowy Dec. 19.
Undeterred by the weather (the Illinios Department of Transportaion advised everyone to stay home) volunteers from the Citizens Police Academy, Evanston Township High School and retailer Target came to the police station at 8 a.m. to help police officers assemble the baskets.
The recipients – many of them senior citizens – were identified by local organizations and, in some instances, by police officers who, because of their work in the neighborhoods, became aware of persons who could use some help, said Commander Tom Guenther.
Each basket included ham or chicken, vegetables, sausage, fresh fruit, bread, applesauce, soups, cookies and assorted candies, Cmdr. Guenther said.
Some of the food was donated by Sam’s Club, Leon’s Sausage, Becharas Wholesale Food, Inc., Highland Baking Company, Dominick’s Foods, and Ferrara Pan Candy Company. The balance was purchased with funds donated by the police and civilian employees of the department.