About Us
Mission Statement | History | Executive Director's Message | Board of Directors

Mission Statement
Rock River Valley Pantry fights hunger in the community by providing nutritious food to those in urgent need.

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History
In 1973, a Rock Valley College student, concerned about hunger, conceived the idea of collecting food and distributing it to needy families in the Rockford community. During preliminary planning of a food pantry, a Board of Directors was formed. This group spent one year researching food distribution programs. The Board of Directors was comprised of five persons including a minister, a nursing director, a United Way representative, a sociology professor, and the college student, Stanley Campbell, who would become the first (volunteer) director of the Pantry. When the Rock River Valley Pantry opened in 1974, it was run exclusively by volunteers and food was donated mainly from churches. During the first year, 1745 individuals were provided emergency food.

Today, the Pantry is operated by two full time and two part time staff members along with the help of volunteers who provide thousands of hours of service. The Pantry receives food and financial support from all segments of the community including churches, businesses, individuals and organizations. In 2007, the Pantry provided 64,965 clients with food items equal to 389,790 meals.

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Executive Director's Message
"As the number of Winnebago County citizens that are living at or under the poverty levels increases, so does the demand for the Rock River Valley Pantry's services. It continues to be our mission to provide a nutritionally balanced emergency food relief program to families, individuals, and elderly who are in need of assistance.

"Families that are barely making a living wage are impacted by many outlying factors; high utility bills, unexpected medical needs, mechanical problems with their car, etc. When this happens, families have to prioritize how to pay their bills. Iif there is not enough money to buy food, they can contact the Pantry to help them through their short term needs. Families with children that go hungry notice an increase in fatigue, poor health, and poor study habits resulting in children failing or dropping out of school. This can result in juvenile delinquency and ultimately an increase in crime. No child should go to bed hungry and we hope that parents will continue to use the Pantry to see that their children receive food assistance.

"In addition to individuals and families that are food insecure, there are the low-income elderly in this community struggling to balance their basic needs against their small incomes. In some household,s prescription medications have replaced dinner due to the lack of funds. The increase in property taxes may impact an elderly neighbor's decision to pay their taxes and go hungry. Or if they purchase food and pay for medicine they could risk losing their home. The Pantry is outreaching to those with hunger needs and helping to provide them with protein, non perishables, and cereal.

"As the Rock River Valley Pantry looks to the future, we see a growing need that can only be met through donations, fundraising efforts, and government support. As you decide what type of contribution that you will make to support the Pantry's efforts, please remember monetary donations allow us to purchase food at three times the consumer rate. Also, your food donations stay in this community and will assist others living in this area.

"Thank you for your interest in the Rock River Valley Pantry and its mission to fight hunger by providing nutritious food to those in urgent need."

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Board of Directors
The current Board of Directors is comprised of 20 volunteer members that meet monthly. As volunteers, they receive no compensation for serving, yet serve actively on the following committees: Finance, Fundraising, Client Services, Personnel, and Facilities.

Advisory Council
The Board is currently in the formation stages of developing an Advisory Council. The Board will be accepting applications and recruiting for the open positions. This council will meet three to four times per year and serve in an advisory capacity.

Mission
Rock River Valley Pantry leads the community in fighting hunger by providing nutritious food to those in urgent need.

Core Values
To serve our clients with respect and dignity,
To provide quality food for balanced meals,
To be accountable to our donors,
To engage volunteers, and
To educate the community regarding hunger issues.

NFP Status
The Rock River Valley Pantry is recognized as a 501(c) by the State of Illinois.

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