Converted Ford Transit Helps The Salvation Army Feed the Poor

PEKIN, Ill. –– From our participation in Central Illinois Food4All this past August, it’s clear that our Ford dealer near Bellevue, IL, is committed to providing essential needs to financially struggling individuals.

That’s why we're proud to see Ford Motor Co. helping provide a converted Ford Transit to help The Salvation Army feed the poor and homeless through its Grate Patrol program on Washington’s streets. Grate Patrol has served 1.3 million meals to homeless men and women over the last three decades, and continues to deliver 150 meals, snacks, and hydration every night.

“Ford is proud to support The Salvation Army’s mobile meals program as part of our commitment to help build strong communities everywhere our employees live and work,” said Janet Lawson, director, Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company. “Transit – America’s best-selling commercial van – has the size and flexibility that make it the right vehicle for this program.”

After Grate Patrol retired its previous van of 10 years, Ford was one of the top donors to help provide a converted Ford Transit to help The Salvation Army feed the poor. The customized van includes a sink, refrigerator, food preparation space, service window, and cabinets, making the process of delivering meals much more feasible and convenient.

As one of the world’s most prominent automakers, Ford uses its influence to impact local communities, and that’s what we continue to do as a smaller part of Ford, whether it’s by providing affordable used cars and trucks for sale near Bellevue, IL, or by participating in community events like Central Illinois Food4All.

At Velde Ford, we are committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit our dealership, Velde Ford at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com

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Volunteer at the Central Illinois Food 4All Food Drive on September 20th!

PEKIN, Illi.- Together we can fight hunger and feed families within our local community.  Help us make a HUGE difference on September 20th from 10 AM to 5 PM at the Central Illinois Food 4All Food Drive. This food drive will benefit all local food pantries through the distribution of goods by the Midwest Food Bank Peoria Division and South Side Mission. 

Volunteer at the Central Illinois Food 4All Food Drive on September 20th with family, friends and co-workers! There are 11 local Kroger stores committed to this event: Peoria - 5 locations, Bartonville, Chillicothe, East Peoria, Morton, Pekin and Washington. There will be two site leaders and 3 shifts of volunteers per location. Click here to get registered: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10c0A44AEAF2EA0FB6-2014/5280093

Volunteer Positions:

• Greeters at the door of the store who will be passing out "Top 10" listing of items needed.
• Hosts at the truck collection area who will welcome and thank all shoppers for their donations no matter how big or small!
• Loaders who will load all of the goods onto the truck.
• Sorters in the truck who will sort all of the items into the various collection bins. 

Volunteer Shifts: 

• 9:00 AM to noon - this will include setting up the sites and getting things rolling!
• Noon to 3:00 PM - prime collection time!
• 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM - this will include an hour of tearing down the collection area and the truck driver picking up the filled semi truck.

Be sure to arrive early at your store location to meet and greet your team! Also, we recommend bringing water and snacks to have throughout the day. Volunteer shifts are in 3-hour increments, but you'll be having so much fun you will probably want to hang out the entire day! As volunteers, we want to ENCOURAGE our teammates and the shoppers at each our sites to support our community.

If you are interested in learning more about volunteering at the Central Illinois Food 4All Food Drive on September 20th contact food4allpeoria@gmail.com or call Lori (309) 243-2742, Jennifer (309) 676-4604 or Teresa (309) 360-6083. For those ready to sign up, head to Sign Up Genius and get registered: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10c0A44AEAF2EA0FB6-2014/5280093

At Velde Autos, we are committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit either of our dealerships, Velde Ford located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or Velde Cadillac Buick GMC is located at 2220 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com
Follow us on: Velde GM Facebook, Velde Ford Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram

Central Illinois Food 4All Food Drive on September 20th!

PEKIN, Illi. -It is that time of the year to give back to our community and help to fight hunger and feed families all over Central Illinois. Food 4All is teaming up with South Side Mission and the Midwest Food Bank Peoria Division to host a community-wide food drive on Saturday, September 20th from 10 AM to 5 PM!

Be one of the 400+ volunteers who help to support 200+ food pantries through distribution of goods by Midwest Food Bank and many families through South Side Mission at the Central Illinois Food 4All Food Drive on Saturday, September 20th from 10 AM to 5 PM. Central Illinois Food 4All has partnered up with EVERY Kroger location in the area, giving us a total of 11 locations collecting food for those in need!

How can you help?
PROMOTE: Getting involved is as easy as word of mouth! Help us by sharing and talking about the food drive to friends, family and co-workers. 

PARTICIPATE: Stop by one of the 11 Kroger locations (Peoria - 5 locations, Bartonville, Chillicothe, East Peoria, Morton, Pekin and Washington) and donate dry or canned goods!

Here are some donations items we suggest: 
Mac & Cheese, Hamburger Helper, Peanut Butter, Jelly, Cereal, Oatmeal, Pop Tarts, Canned Vegetables, Canned Fruit, Pasta, Rice, Beans, Pasta Sauce and Canned Tomatoes. 

VOLUNTEER: As massive as this event is, volunteers are always needed! Sign up with your family and friends to help out at a collection site by visiting www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10c0A44AEAF2EA0FB6-2014/5280093! Keep a look out for more information about being a volunteer from Velde Autos!

The food drive is timed specifically to help these families with back-to-school expenses when resources are already drained. Through the Central Illinois Food 4All Food Drive on September 20th we can help the 26.1% of residents that are living in Peoria in poverty. For more information about the food drive, please feel free to contact food4allpeoria@gmail.com or call Lori (309) 243-2742, Jennifer (309) 676-4604 or Teresa (309) 360-6083.

At Velde Autos, we are committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit either of our dealerships, Velde Ford located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or Velde Cadillac Buick GMC is located at 2220 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com
Follow us on: Velde GM Facebook, Velde Ford Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram